TH 

WIRELESS 

S  TAT  I O  N  -AT 

SILVER^FOX 

FARM 

JAMES'OTIS 


FOR    ONE    INSTANT   THE   TWO    LITERALLY    HELD   THEIR    BREATH 


The  Wireless  Station  at 
Silver  Fox  Farm 


BY 

JAMES    OTIS 

I  OF  "  AUNT  HANNAH  AND  ! 
"TWO  STOWAWAYS,"  ETC. 


AUTHOR  OF  ««  AUNT  HANNAH  AND  SETH," 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  COP  ELAND 


NEW  YORK 
THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1910, 
BY  THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL  &  CO. 


STACK 

ANNO 

5125809 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  AN  ODD  BUSINESS i 

II.  THE  STATION 20 

III.  FREEING  THE  FOXES 37 

IV.  THE  FIRST  MESSAGE 54 

V.  TELLTALE  SIGNS 73 

VI.  A  WELCOME  ARRIVAL 92 

VII.  QUESTIONABLE  VISITORS in 

VIII.  A  QUESTION  OF  VERACITY     .      .      .      .130 

IX.  WIRELESS  TELEGRAPHY 149 

X.  PATROLLING  THE  COAST 168 

XL  THE  VICTIM 187 

XII.  A  CONFESSION 206 

XIII.  A  CRY  FOR  HELP 224 

XIV.  THE  "NERA" 243 

XV.  THE  SCHOONER 262 

XVI.  A  MISCALCULATION 281 

XVII.  THE  RESCUE 300 

XVIII.  SAM'S  OUTBURST 318 

XIX.  PLANS  FOR  THE  FUTURE 336 


111 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION 
AT  SILVER   FOX   FARM 


CHAPTER  I 

AN  ODD  BUSINESS 

"WHO  ever  heard  of  raising  foxes  to  sell?"  and 
Ned  Bartlett  gave  way  to  mirth  because  the  statement 
made  by  his  particular  friend,  Paul  Simpson,  seemed 
to  him  absolutely  ridiculous. 

"But  father  doesn't  count  on  raising  such  foxes  as 
are  to  be  found  around  here.  Why  don't  you  wait  to 
hear  all  the  details  before  feeling  so  funny?"  and  it 
could  readily  be  understood  that  Paul  was  considerably 
more  than  vexed. 

"If  there  are  any  details  to  the  business  of  raising 
foxes  for  the  market,  I'll  be  willing  to  wait  a  long  while 
in  order  to  hear  about  them,"  and  Ned  scrambled  up 
on  a  pile  of  logs  which  had  been  rafted  down  from  the 
woods  of  northern  Maine  to  be  sawn  into  lumber  in 
the  mills  of  Seaview,  seating  himself  on  the  topmost 
in  the  attitude  of  one  who  is  ready  to  hear  that  which 
he  discredits  before  the  hearing. 

"Perhaps  you  have  read  about  silver  foxes,  which 
are  to  be  found  in  Russia,  Siberia,  and  I  don't  know 
how  many  other  places,"  Paul  began,  speaking  almost 
sharply,  and  Ned  replied  laughingly: 

"I  never  even  knew  that  foxes  really  wore  silver 
coats." 

1 


2  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Now  don't  try  again  to  be  funny,"  and  one  might 
have  believed  that  Paul's  temper  was  strained  to  the 
explosive  point.  "I'm  not  saying  that  they  are  really 
the  color  of  silver ;  but  the  fur  has  a  tint  of  bluish  black, 
with  just  enough  white  hairs  mixed  in  to  give  it  a 
white  sheen.  At  all  events,  a  first-class  pelt  from  a 
so-called  silver  fox  is  worth  more  than  two  hundred 
dollars,  because " 

"What?" 

"That  is  a  fact.  You  must  know  that  even  in  the 
countries  where  they  are  to  be  found  wild,  silver  foxes 
are  far  from  being  plentiful,  and  because  of  such  fact 
the  pelts  command  a  big  price.  Now  my  father  has 
contracted  with  a  Russian  fur  trader  for  three  pairs  of 
live  foxes,  and,  what  is  more,  he  is  to  pay  seven  hun- 
dred dollars  for  each  couple." 

"Seven —  Why,  that  is  two  thousand  one  hundred 
dollars  for  six  miserable  foxes !" 

"Yes,  and  a  big  lot  of  money  must  be  spent  before 
they  will  raise  young  ones  large  enough  to  have  mar- 
ketable hides.  It's  a  great  business,  when  you  come  to 
look  it  over,"  and  now  Paul  spoke  in  a  friendly,  confi- 
dential tone.  "Father  has  bought,  or  leased,  the  whole 
of  Barren  island,  and  it's  there  he  counts  on  establish- 
ing a  fox  farm." 

"Barren  island!"  Ned  exclaimed.  "Why,  that  for- 
saken spot  is  a  full  twenty  miles  straight  out  to  sea 
from  here!" 

"It  is  set  down  on  the  charts  as  just  twenty-two 
miles,  if  you  insist  on  being  geographically  correct." 

"But  why  does  he  go  so  far  away  from  every- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  3 

where?"  Ned  asked  in  surprise,  now  beginning  to 
fancy  that  perhaps  there  might  be  something  savoring 
of  business  in  this  scheme  of  raising  silver  foxes. 

"In  order  that  he  may  be  able  to  protect  the  animals 
while  they  are  breeding,  of  course.  What  chance 
would  foxes  have  against  dishonest  hunters,  if  they 
were  penned  up  where  anybody  could  come  at  them  ?" 

"It  isn't  impossible,  if  a  person  was  eager  for  such 
game,  to  go  over  to  Barren  island,"  Ned  suggested; 
and  Paul  replied : 

"That  is  true;  but  an  island  can  be  guarded  more 
easily  than  could  the  same  area  on  the  mainland. 
When  a  man  invests  twenty-one  hundred  dollars  in 
foxes,  and  jjpunts  on  spending  twice  or  three  times  as 
much  more  before  he  can  get  any  returns  from  the 
business,  it  stands  him  in  hand  to  take  every  possible 
precaution  against  loss." 

"Does  any  one  live  on  Barren  island?"  Ned  asked 
after  a  brief  pause. 

"Old  Daniel  Downs,  his  wife,  and  two  sons.  Father 
has  hired  the  whole  family  to  take  charge  of  the  island. 
The  boys,  Ernest  and  Sam,  are  to  keep  watch  day  and 
night,  after  the  foxes  arrive,  to  prevent  any  one  from 
landing  there." 

"They  can't  stop  a  vessel  from  coming  to  anchor  if 
there  is  any  harbor  on  the  shore  of  the  island,"  Ned 
suggested,  and  Paul  replied  eagerly,  as  if  he  had  been 
on  the  point  of  referring  to  the  same  subject: 

"Father  believes  the  greatest  danger  will  come  from 
a  visit  of  that  kind,  therefore  he  hired  the  entire  Downs 
family  as  guards.  Of  course  the  master  of  a  vessel 


4  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

has  a  right  to  make  harbor  at  any  place  when  stress  of 
weather  demands  it.  Father  realizes  that  the  curiosity 
of  the  people  will  be  aroused  when  it  is  known  that  he 
has  started  a  fox  farm,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  yachtsmen  visiting  the  Maine  coast  will  heave  to 
off  Barren  island  in  order  to  see  how  such  a  place 
looks.  You  can  understand  that  the  animals  would 
be  disturbed  so  seriously  that  they  might  not  become 
domesticated,  if  the  island  was  overrun  with  visitors." 

"It  won't  be  any  easy  job  to  prevent  people  from 
going  ashore  there,"  Ned  suggested  as  the  difficulties 
of  the  peculiar  business  began  to  present  themselves. 

"But  that  isn't  the  worst  part  of  it,"  Paul  cried, 
pleased  because  his  friend  was  displaying  so  much  in- 
terest in  this  odd  method  of  making  money  from  furs. 
"Yachtsmen  and  curious  people  will  come  only  in  the 
daytime  and  during  fair  weather ;  but  when  it  is  gener- 
ally known  that  the  pelt  of  one  of  these  foxes  is  worth 
two  hundred  dollars  or  more,  it  is  likely  efforts  will  be 
made  by  men  who  would  not  hesitate  at  committing  a 
crime,  to  kill  and  carry  away  the  animals  which  have 
cost  father  so  much  money.  Such  men  would  come 
in  foul  weather  instead  of  fair,  and  by  night  rather 
than  day.  There  is  where  the  greatest  danger  to  the 
business  will  be  found,  and  that  is  why  father  counts 
on  sending  me  to  make  certain  the  Downs  family  live 
up  to  their  orders." 

"You  ?  You  go  to  Barren  island  ?  What  could  you 
do  toward  preventing  a  gang  of  men  from  carrying 
away  the  foxes,  if  they  could  find  them?"  Ned  cried  in 
amazement. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  5 

"Perhaps  not  very  much  single-handed,"  Paul  re- 
plied modestly;  "but  I  can  see  to  it  that  the  Downs 
family  do  their  full  duty,  and  I  am  able  to  run  a  power 
boat  fairly  well." 

"That  little  craft  of  yours  wouldn't  live  an  hour  so 
far  at  sea,  when  the  weather  was  heavy." 

"I  am  to  have  a  32-foot  Hampton  dory,  with  a 
6-horsepower  engine,  and  such  a  boat  as  that  will  live 
where  an  ordinary  yacht  would  founder,"  Paul  replied 
triumphantly. 

"Well,  say,  your  father  is  going  into  the  business  in 
great  shape !  I  wish  I  might  have  a  finger  in  the  pie ; 
but  I  won't  even  get  a  chance  to  see  you  on  patrol  in 
your  new  craft !"  Ned  cried  in  a  tone  of  envy.  "Here 
I  am  tied  to  this  blooming  old  academy  another  year, 
simply  because  I  didn't  buckle  down  to  my  books  last 
term  as  you  did.  I  might  have  graduated  all  right  if 
I  hadn't  spent  so  much  time  with  the  fishermen  while 
you  were  plugging  in  great  shape." 

With  his  face  buried  in  his  hands,  and  his  elbows  on 
his  knees,  Ned  Bartlett  gave  himself  up  to  mourning 
over  his  wilful  waste  of  time,  as  many  another  fellow 
has  done  before  him. 

"Why  not  run  over  with  my  old  dory  in  fair 
weather  and  spend  a  Sunday  now  and  then  ?" 

"It  couldn't  be  done,"  Ned  replied  mournfully.  "I 
dropped  so  far  behind  in  mathematics  last  year  that  I 
don't  dare  take  the  chances  of  being  caught  on  Barren 
island  in  a  storm  and  be  forced  to  stay  there  two  or 
three  days.  I  must  graduate  next  spring,  or  stand  dis- 
graced before  all  my  people.  It  was  bad  enough  to 


6  THE  W-IRELESS  STATION 

have  failed  last  year.  Another  such  exhibition  of  ig- 
norance as  I  gave  then  would  cause  father  and  mother, 
with  good  reason,  to  be  ashamed  of  me." 

"We  might  have  had  such  a  jolly  time  this  summer 
if  you  could  go  with  me,"  Paul  said  in  a  low  tone  as  if 
simply  giving  words  to  his  thoughts,  and  Ned  cried 
sharply : 

"Don't !  There's  no  need  to  remind  me  that  I  made 
all  kinds  of  a  fool  of  myself  by  idling  away  the  time 
while  you  fellows  were  working.  I  thought  it  was  go- 
ing to  be  mighty  hard  when  I  believed  you  would  be 
at  home;  but  now!  There  isn't  a  fellow  in  this  town 
of  Seaview,  except  you,  whom  I'd  chum  with,  and 
you're  the  same  as  running  away  from  me!" 

This  was  a  reproach  which  Paul  could  not  well  af- 
ford to  let  pass  unheeded,  and  he  replied  quite  hotly : 

"It  was  you  who  ran  away  from  me  last  fall  when 
the  fishing  fleet  left  port,  and " 

"Yes,  and  by  making  such  a  fool  of  myself  I  lost 
all  chance  of  passing  the  exams.  I  wish  I  had  as  many 
legs  as  a  spider,  so  that  I  might  kick  myself !" 

"There's  no  sense  in  crying  over  spilt  milk,"  Paul 
said  in  a  soothing  tone  as  his  friend  gave  way  to  vain 
regrets.  "Come  with  me,  and  we'll  have  one  more 
spin  in  the  old  dory.  The  Hampton  boat  is  a  much 
better  craft,  of  course;  but  I  shan't  get  to  liking  her 
as  well  as  I  do  the  one  we've  cruised  in  so  many 
times." 

"Don't  you  count  on  coming  over  here  from  the  isl- 
and during  the  summer?"  Ned  asked  in  a  mournful 
tone  as  he  followed  his  friend  toward  the  pier. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  7 

'Father  thinks  I  ought  not  leave  after  the  foxes  have 
been  landed,  unless  he  is  there  to  take  my  place." 

"When  are  you  going?" 

"Some  time  next  week;  as  soon  as  the  Hampton  boat 
arrives." 

"And  I  shan't  be  able  even  to  hear  from  you,"  Ned 
said  in  a  tone  of  deepest  despair,  and  then,  as  he  invol- 
untarily glanced  toward  his  home  on  the  hill  the  ex- 
pression of  sorrow  on  his  face  suddenly  gave  way  to 
one  of  excitement.  "Say,  Paul,  why  won't  it  be  possi- 
ble for  us  to  have  a  chat  with  each  other  every  day  ?" 

"A  chat  with  each  other?"  and  Paul  turned  to  face 
his  friend  as  if  believing  his  senses  had  suddenly  taken 
flight.  "It  isn't  probable  we  shall  even  see  each  other 
during  a  full  year.  Father  thinks  I  should  be  able  to 
stay  on  Barren  island  that  length  of  time." 

"Your,  silver  fox  farm  is  only  twenty-two  miles 
away,  and  with  one  of  those  on  the  island " 

Ned  interrupted  himself  to  point  at  two  tall  spars 
with  their  guys  of  wire,  and  a  weblike  antenna  sus- 
pended between  them,  which  stood  nearby  his  home. 

"Why,  Ned!"  Paul  cried  in  delight.  "What  a 
chump  I  am  not  to  have  thought  of  such  a  scheme !" 

"You  helped  me  put  up  that  apparatus,  and  I'll  run 
the  risk  of  taking  a  week's  vacation  from  the  academy 
to  help  you  raise  one  like  it  on  the  island.  Then,  every 
day  at  a  certain  moment  we'll  come  together  for  a  chat. 
I'm  not  very  strong  on  silver-fox  farming,  but  I  surely 
am  as  well  posted  as  are  you  on  wireless  telegraphy." 

"It's  the  very  biggest  kind  of  an  idea,"  and  Paul 
Simpson  wheeled  about  to  stare  at  his  friend  as  if  lost 


8  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

in  amazement  because  such  a  plan  had  not  presented 
itself  to  his  mind  before. 

During  the  six  months  or  more  just  passed  the  two 
boys  had  been  deeply  interested  in  what  had  presented 
itself  to  them  as  a  mystery — wireless  telegraphy.  They 
had  gained  so  much  knowledge  on  the  subject  as  to  be 
able  to  intercept  messages  sent  from  a  distance  of 
thirty  or  forty  miles ;  but  because  of  their  ignorance  of 
the  code  generally  used  by  operators  of  the  wireless, 
they  had  thus  far  been  unable  to  send  any  message. 

The  fathers  of  the  two  boys  had  looked  upon  the  ex- 
periments as  coming  rather  in  the  way  of  childish  sport 
than  anything  which  might  prove  to  be  of  practical 
value,  and,  therefore,  the  amateur  telegraphers  were 
forced  so  to  curtail  their  expenses  that  the  apparatus 
near  Ned  Bartlett's  home  was  not  of  such  strength  and 
efficiency  as  it  might  have  been  had  the  lads  had  more 
money  at  their  disposal. 

Both  understood  all  the  defects  in  their  work,  and 
knew  full  well  how  they  might  be  remedied  by  the  ex- 
penditure of  more  money,  yet  had  not  been  able  thus 
far  to  come  at  the  necessary  amount. 

At  that  very  moment  of  their  joy  at  having,  as  it 
seemed,  hit  upon  the  means  of  communicating  freely 
with  each  other  during  such  time  as  Paul  was  forced  to 
remain  on  Barren  island,  the  unpleasant  fact  presented 
itself  that  they  had  expended  all  their  funds  in  the  erec- 
tion of  this  one  station  at  Seaview,  and  with  such  real- 
ization came  the  question  of  how  the  apparatus  might 
be  duplicated  at  the  silver  fox  farm  when  they  were 
virtually  penniless. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  9 

The  same  thought  was  in  the  mind  of  each,  for  as  the 
expression  of  joy  on  Paul's  face  gave  way  to  one  of 
disappointment  and  perplexity,  Ned  said  mournfully : 

"There's  no  use  in  asking  our  fathers  for  the  cash 
that  will  be  needed ;  at  least,  I  know  it  would  be  time 
wasted  to  say  anything  about  it  at  home,  for  every  one 
there  believes  we  the  same  as  threw  our  money  away 
in  putting  up  that  one-horse  apparatus,  although  we 
have  been  able  to  report  no  little  of  maritime  news  since 
it  was  in  working  shape." 

"My  father  hasn't  said  anything  whatever  regard- 
ing the  scheme ;  but  it  has  been  plainly  seen  that  he  did 
not  count  it  as  of  any  great  value,  while  mother  has 
told  me  more  than  once  that  I  had  better  have  kept  at 
my  books  than  spend  so  much  time  in  play.  It  seems 
tough,  when  you  think  that  we  might  talk  with  each 
other  while  I  am  away,  but  are  prevented  from  doing 
so  because  of  lacking  a  few  dollars." 

"I  will  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  Ned  said  suddenly  af- 
ter a  brief  pause.  "Eben  Dyer  offered  me  ten  dollars 
for  my  rifle,  but  I  wouldn't  sell  it  to  him  because  I 
paid  fourteen,  and  it  is  just  as  good  as  new.  If  he's 
willing  now  to  give  the  same  price,  he  shall  have  it, 
and  perhaps  we  can  raise  a  little  more  in  some  way. 
Why  it  would  be  better  to  run  in  debt  for  the  material 
than  give  up  the  plan." 

Paul  appeared  doubtful  as  to  this  last  suggestion. 
First,  because  his  father  had  instilled  into  his  mind  the 
principle  that  a  boy  or  a  man  should  not,  simply  for 
purposes  of  pleasure,  contract  a  debt,  and  secondly  be- 
cause he  had  grave  doubts  as  to  whether  they  would  be 


IO 

able  to  establish  a  credit  with  any  house  selling  elec- 
trical supplies. 

"There  is  my  old  dory,"  he  said,  as  if  speaking  to 
himself.  "She  surely  should  be  worth  fifty  dollars,  and 
while  I  hate  like  the  mischief  to  part  with  her,  I'd 
rather  do  it  than  give  up  all  hope  of  having  a  wireless 
station  on  the  island.  Let's  go  down  to  the  shipyard, 
and  see  if  we  can  find  any  one  who  will  buy  her." 

"But  suppose  you  should  sell  her  for  fifty  dollars, 
when  she's  worth  at  least  seventy-five,  and  then  some- 
thing happened  that  you'd  want  me  to  come  over  to  the 
island ;  I'd  be  tied  here  for  lack  of  a  boat." 

"Now  you  are  crossing  bridges  before  you  come  to 
them,  as  father  says.  If  it  was  necessary  for  me  to 
have  you  at  Barren  island,  I  surely  could  run  across  in 
the  Hampton  boat  after  you ;  but  if  we  kept  the  old  boat 
for  the  sake  of  your  coming  across  in  her,  there  would 
be  no  means  of  my  letting  you  know  that  you  were 
wanted,  for  the  wireless  station  must  be  built  before  we 
can  get  together  after  I  leave  here." 

Clearly  it  was  impracticable  to  raise  the  desired 
amount  of  money  by  the  sale  of  the  dory,  and  also  cer- 
tain that  the  proceeds  of  the  boat  would  not  be  sufficient 
for  their  purpose.  It  seemed  to  the  boys  as  if  at  the 
very  moment  when  they  had  conceived  what  to  them 
was  a  most  brilliant  scheme,  disappointment  stood  in 
their  path,  and  it  is  quite  possible  they  would  have 
failed  to  continue  their  efforts  in  that  direction,  believ- 
ing defeat  was  certain,  had  not  kindly  fortune  sent  in 
their  way  the  one  instrument  above  all  others  for  the 
removal  of  this  particular  obstacle. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  n 

And  surprising  though  it  may  seem,  this  instrument 
was  none  other  than  Paul's  father,  he  who,  as  his  son 
believed,  looked  upon  wireless  telegraphing  as  a  child- 
ish sport  rather  than  practical  work, 

"Are  you  two  lads  already  bidding  each  other 
good-by  for  the  summer?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  in  a 
jovial  tone,  and  Paul  turned  upon  him  a  face  on  which 
was  written  deepest  disappointment,  as  he  replied: 

"We  have  been  trying  to  find  out  how  it  might  be 
possible  for  us  to  raise  a  certain  amount  of  money,  and 
have  come  to  an  end  of  planning." 

"Why  can't  two  able-bodied  lads  such  as  you  raise 
by  honest  labor  as  much  in  the  way  of  cash  as  you  may 
need  ?  I  fancy  your  wants  are  not  very  great." 

"That's  just  the  trouble  of  it,  sir,"  Ned  replied 
quickly.  "Our  desires  far  outstrip  our  earning  ca- 
pacity. If  we  could  get  along  without  Paul's  old  dory, 
we  might  raise  what  is  needed." 

"Are  you  thinking  of  selling  your  boat,  my  son?" 
Mr.  Simpson  asked  in  surprise.  "Surely  you  two  lads 
cannot  need  as  much  money  as  she  is  worth." 

"Ned  is  willing  to  sell  his  rifle,  and  has  an  offer  of 
ten  dollars  for  it.  The  only  way  by  which  we  can  raise 
enough  more,  owing  to  the  fact  that  I  must  go  over  to 
Barren  island  so  soon,  is  by  selling  the  dory,  and  yet 
that  would  knock  our  plans  all  askew." 

"Perhaps  if  you  were  to  explain  what  your  plans 
are,  I  might  understand  the  situation  better,"  Mr. 
Simpson  said,  but  without  any  very  great  show  of 
eagerness  to  learn  what  the  boys  had  in  mind. 

"We  wanted  to  put  up  a  wireless  station  on  Barren 


12  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

island,  so  that  Ned  and  I  could  talk  with  each  other 
at  any  time,"  Paul  replied  hesitatingly,  for  he  believed 
his  father  would  immediately  make  sport  of  any  such 
idea,  and  the  lad  was  thoroughly  surprised  when  Mr. 
Simpson  said  heartily: 

"Such  a  scheme  as  that  would  suit  me  exactly.  Are 
you  lads  capable  of  working  a  wireless?" 

"We  have  been  doing  so  since  January,"  Ned  re- 
plied eagerly.  "Don't  you  remember  that  we  picked  up 
messages  from  two  steamers  this  spring?" 

"I  do  not  understand  the  principle  of  wireless 
telegraphy  myself,  therefore  it  is  I  am  asking  whether 
the  fact  that  you  could  pick  up  a  message  from  a  dis- 
tance, presupposes  that  you  are  able  to  send  one." 

"It  is  much  more  simple  to  send  than  to  receive," 
Paul  replied  as  he  recovered  somewhat  from  the  sur- 
prise which  came  upon  him  at  learning  that  his  father 
approved  of  the  scheme. 

"Very  well,  you  are  at  liberty  to  order  in  my  name 
such  material  as  may  be  needed,  and  I  will  pay  the  bills 
with  the  understanding  that  I  shall  have  the  use  of  the 
stations  in  case  they  may  be  needed  in  my  new  busi- 
ness." 

There  is  little  need  to  say  that  the  boys  readily 
agreed  to  such  a  proposition,  and  five  minutes  later, 
when  Mr.  Simpson  had  continued  on  his  way  to  the 
village,  the  two  stood  mutely  gazing  into  each  others' 
faces  as  if  already  doubting  the  evidences  of  their  senses. 

But  little  time  was  needed,  however,  to  bring  them 
to  a  full  realization  of  what  they  believed  was  the  rar- 
est good  fortune,  and  there  was  no  further  thought  of 


13 

taking  a  sail  in  the  old  dory,  for  if  the  new  station  was 
to  be  erected  before  the  arrival  of  the  silver  foxes,  it 
was  necessary  they  set  about  the  work  of  gathering 
the  materials  without  delay. 

After  having  made  a  memorandum  of  such  articles 
as  would  be  needed  to  put  up  an  apparatus  equal  in 
electrical  force  to  the  one  at  Ned's  home,  the  question 
arose  as  to  how  much  further  they  might  go  in  the  en- 
terprise; that  is  to  say,  whether  they  would  be  war- 
ranted in  strengthening  the  power  of  the  station  at 
Seaview,  and  building  a  new  one  on  the  island  in  unison 
with  it,  or  if  they  must  cut  down  expenses  to  the  lowest 
possible  notch.  Therefore,  as  soon  as  might  be  after 
this  matter  came  up  for  discussion,  they  sought  out 
Paul's  father  to  learn  his  views  on  the  subject. 

"So  you  are  willing  to  sidmit  that  what  you  have  al- 
ready done  is  not  exactly  as  it  should  be?"  he  asked 
with  a  laugh,  and  Paul  set  about  explaining  how,  by 
certain  additional  outlays  of  money,  it  would  be  possi- 
ble for  them  to  enlarge  their  plans  to  such  extent  that 
instead  of  confining  operations  within  a  circle  of  forty 
or  fifty  miles,  the  stations  might  readily,  and  at  com- 
paratively small  expense,  be  made  sufficient  to  receive 
and  send  messages  twice  or  three  times  that  distance. 

"So  far  as  concerns  my  end  of  the  scheme,  all  I  de- 
sire is  that  you  shall  be  able  to  maintain  communica- 
tion between  Barren  island  and  the  mainland.  If  there 
is  a  possibility  that  you  might  make  more  certain  of 
perfect  success  by  the  expenditure  of  an  additional  fifty 
or  an  hundred  dollars,  why  I  am  willing  to  stand  the 
expense  in  order  to  guard  against  failure ;  but  remem- 


14  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

her  this,  lads :  There  are  a  hundred  cents  in  every  dol- 
lar, and  I  am  not  willing  to  put  out  good  money  for 
the  purpose  of  childish  experiments.  If  you  know  ex- 
actly what  may  be  needed  to  establish  these  stations, 
and  are  confident  it  can  be  done  by  you,  without  calling 
in  expert  assistance,  which  would  be  expensive,  then, 
as  I  said  before,  I  am  ready  to  pay  the  bills." 

But  for  the  fact  that  Paul  reminded  his  comrade 
very  sharply,  Ned  might  have  forgotten  that,  from  his 
parents'  point  of  view,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  he 
should  pass  a  successful  examination  at  the  Academy 
during  the  following  spring.  He  was  so  excited  and 
overjoyed  by  the  possibility  of  going  more  deeply  into 
the  mystery  of  wireless  telegraphy  as  to  forget  entirely 
his  school  duties,  and  this,  as  Paul  explained,  would 
perhaps  be  fatal  to  their  scheme,  since  it  was  necessary, 
if  they  were  to  hold  communication  one  with  another 
throughout  the  summer,  that  Ned's  parents  were  not 
opposed  to  his  spending  a  certain  amount  of  time  in 
such  a  manner. 

Therefore,  it  was  decided  that  Paul  should  attend  to 
the  purchase  of  the  materials,  making  ready  every- 
thing, so  far  as  possible,  at  Seaview,  and  that  Ned 
perform  his  part  of  the  labor  only  when  they  were 
ready  to  set  out  for  Barren  island. 

In  order  to  do  this  last  a  short  vacation  from  the 
academy  was  essential,  and  in  order  that  it  might  not 
work  to  Ned's  disadvantage,  it  was  agreed  that  he 
should  in  the  meanwhile  devote  all  his  time  to  study,  to 
the  end  that  he  might  take  in  advance  such  work  as 
would  be  given  the  students  during  his  absence. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  15 

Now  in  telling  this  story,  which  is  one  concerning 
the  raising  of  silver  foxes,  rather  than  of  wireless  teleg- 
raphy, much  space  might  be  taken  up  with  technical 
description  of  wave  detectors,  circuit  condensers,  in- 
ductive coils,  and  in  fact  all  that  goes  to  make  up  a 
wireless  station,  and  yet  the  end  of  the  tale  would  not 
be  advanced. 

Therefore,  it  seems  better  to  say  briefly  that  Paul, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  father,  succeeded  in  purchas- 
ing such  a  portable  outfit  for  wireless  telegraphy  as  the 
signal  corps  in  the  United  States  Army  use;  and  this 
done,  the  remainder  of  the  work  seemed  to  the  lads 
simple. 

There  was  on  Barren  island  sufficient  in  the  way  of 
growing  timber  to  provide  them  with  spars,  and  on  the 
second  day  after  the  Hampton  boat  arrived  at  Seaview, 
Paul  was  ready  to  begin  work  on  that  station  which 
should  connect  Silver  Fox  Farm  with  the  headland 
near  Ned's  home. 

The  new  power  boat  was  a  beauty  from  a  seaman's 
point  of  view.  Staunch,  well  equipped,  and  unques- 
tionably able  to  withstand  any  weather  that  might  be 
encountered  during  the  voyage  of  twenty-two  miles. 

It  is  proof  of  Ned's  determination  that  this  scheme  of 
his  and  Paul's  should  not  interfere  with  his  studies, 
when  we  set  it  down  that  until  the  hour  arrived  when 
the  voyage  to  Barren  island  was  to  be  begun,  he  had 
not  seen  the  new  craft,  nor  was  he  aware,  save  in  a  gen- 
eral way,  of  what  her  cargo  consisted.  Nearly  every 
moment  of  his  waking  hours  had  been  spent  in  poring 
over  the  advanced  tasks  which  his  instructors  had  set 


16  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

him,  and  he  could  say  truthfully  that  the  visit  to  Silver 
Fox  Farm  might  be  prolonged  a  full  seven  days  with- 
out interfering  with  his  academical  work. 

The  sun  did  not  rise  as  early  on  the  Monday  morn- 
ing set  for  the  departure  as  did  the  boys.  They  were 
up  a  good  hour  before  he  sent  warning  shafts  of  light 
to  proclaim  his  coming,  and  the  day  had  not  yet  fully 
dawned  when  the  mooring  lines  were  cast  off  and  the 
Hampton  boat  stood  out  from  the  little  pier,  breasting 
the  ocean  swell  in  such  a  manner  as  gave  ample  prom- 
ise of  her  seaworthiness. 

"This  is  something  like  a  craft,"  Ned  said  in  a  tone 
of  admiration  as  he  stood  at  the  wheel  while  Paul  anx- 
iously watched  the  machinery,  listening  jealously  to 
learn  if  she  missed  a  stroke.  "I've  seen  a  good  many 
power  boats ;  but  this  goes  ahead  of  them  all." 

"She's  the  best  of  her  class  that  father  could  buy," 
Paul  replied  modestly.  "I  took  her  out  for  a  spin  yes- 
terday, and  she  behaved  like  a  lady,  which  is  saying  a 
good  deal  for  a  new  boat." 

"Indeed  it  is !  Say,  what  a  time  you  will  have  in  her 
this  summer,  eh?  Knocking  around  Barren  island,  no 
matter  what  the  weather  may  be,  for  she  will  stand 
anything.  If  I'd  been  a  decent  fellow  instead  of  a 
simpleton,  you  and  I  could  have  been  together  from 
now  until  winter." 

"Don't  think  of  what  might  have  been,  now  when 
you  are  doing  your  best  to  make  up  for  it,"  Paul  re- 
plied soothingly.  "If  the  silver  fox  business  turns  out 
anywhere  near  what  father  expects,  there  may  be  a 
chance  another  summer  for  you  and  me  to  cruise  in  this 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  17 

boat,  warning  off  curious  ones  from  the  island,  and 
making  certain  no  person  lands  to  steal  the  stock." 

"It's  a  long  look  ahead,  from  now  until  next  sum- 
mer," Ned  said  mournfully.  "A  full  year;  and  by  that 
time  your  father  may  have  found  that  silver  foxes  and 
Barren  island  don't  go  well  together.  The  people  here  in 
the  town  think  that  he's  next  door  to  being  crazy.  They 
say  that  in  the  first  place  you  can't  raise  those  kind  of 
animals  down  here,  and  secondly,  even  if  they  live,  they 
won't  breed,  and  if  they  breed,  the  fur  won't  be  as  valu- 
able as  if  they  had  remained  in  colder  regions." 

"Yes,  I've  heard  a  good  deal  against  the  scheme,  and 
father  himself  isn't  so  certain  that  it  will  be  a  success. 
Yet  he  believes  the  chances  are  in  his  favor,  if  he  can 
prevent  people  from  interfering  with  the  animals,  and 
that's  why  he  is  going  to  spend  so  much  money  guard- 
ing the  place.  If  it  wasn't  for  his  fears,  we  wouldn't 
be  in  a  boat  like  this  just  now,  nor  would  we  have  the 
material  for  a  wireless  station  aboard.  When  you  come 
to  think  of  it,  Ned,  you  are  not  so  unfortunate  because 
of  failing  to  pass  the  exams  last  year." 

"How  do  you  make  that  out  ?" 

"Why,  you  had  rather  run  a  wireless  station  than 
farm  silver  foxes,  and  father  has  an  idea  that  our 
scheme  is  a  great  one,  so  far  as  his  business  is  con- 
cerned. It  might  be  possible  for  some  of  you  in  Sea- 
view  to  learn  when  people  were  making  ready  to  steal 
the  animals,  and  we  on  the  island  could  get  warning 
by  the  wireless.  Or,  again,  something  might  come  up 
which  would  cause  us  to  need  help  from  the  mainland, 
and  how  could  we  get  it  without  our  stations  ?  There- 


i8  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

fore,  if  you  had  passed,  one  or  the  other  of  us  would 
be  forced  to  remain  in  Seaview,  else  we  couldn't  work 
the  business." 

"And  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  silver  foxes  we 
wouldn't  have  had  two  complete  wireless  stations,  eh?" 
Ned  added  laughingly. 

Having  thus  persuaded  himself,  or  been  persuaded, 
that  perhaps  his  failure  to  pass  the  examination  would 
prove  a  blessing  in  disguise,  Ned  grew  curious  as  to 
what  had  been  purchased  for  the  new  station,  and  the 
two  hours  which  were  occupied  in  the  run  from  Sea- 
view  to  Barren  island  were  spent  in  going  over  detail  by 
detail  all  that  had  been  provided  in  the  way  of  an  outfit, 
while  at  the  same  time  the  boys  had  mapped  out  the  work 
which  was  to  be  done  immediately  upon  their  arrival. 

It  was  yet  reasonably  early  in  the  day  when  the 
Hampton  boat  came  to  anchor  in  the  little  cove  nearby 
which  stood  the  home  of  Mr.  Daniel  Downs,  and  his 
two  sons  put  out  at  once  in  a  dory  to  learn  who  the 
newcomers  might  be. 

These  two  lads,  who  had  never  left  Barren  island 
save  for  short  visits  to  Seaview,  were  thoroughly  ex- 
cited and  decidedly  pleased  at  learning  that  Paul  was  to 
spend  the  summer  with  them ;  that  the  Hampton  boat 
was  to  be  used  in  running  the  fox  farm ;  and  that  Ned 
would  remain  on  the  island  a  week. 

When,  however,  a  hurried  explanation  of  what  the 
newcomers  intended  to  do  in  the  way  of  erecting  a 
station  on  the  island  was  made,  the  lads  not  only  di's- 
believed  what  was  told  to  them,  but  showed  no  little 
signs  of  anger  because  the  town  boys  were  come  to 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  19 

them  with  a  ridiculous  story,  thinking  they  would  be- 
lieve such  a  yarn.  The  idea  of  sending  a  message  from 
Barren  island  to  Seaview,  twenty-two  miles  across  the 
ocean,  simply  by  the  aid  of  a  couple  of  spars  and  a  lot 
of  wire,  was  ridiculous! 

"But  it  can  be  done,  and  it  is  done  every  day,"  Ned 
said  sharply  when  Sam  Downs  declared  boldly  that 
neither  he  nor  his  brother  would  be  "stuffed"  by  any 
such  nonsense.  "Haven't  you  read  in  the  papers  about 
wireless  telegraphy?" 

"Wa'al,  we  don't  get  a  newspaper  out  here  very  of- 
ten." 

"Surely  you  see  them  now  and  then?" 

"Yes,  father  brought  one  back  when  he  went  over 
to  Seaview  two  years  ago ;  but  there  wasn't  anything  in 
it  about  your  yarn." 

"My  father  says  you  are  to  help  us  trim  and  put  up 
two  spars,  and  once  we  get  the  station  in  order,  you 
shall  see  that  it  will  be  possible  for  us  to  send  a  message 
from  here  to  Seaview." 

"With  nothing  but  the  air  for  it  to  go  on?"  Sam 
Downs  asked  petulantly,  and  Paul  replied  stoutly: 

"With  nothing  but  the  air  for  it  to  go  on." 

"Wa'al,  when  that  time  comes,  I'll  be  able  to  walk 
from  here  to  town  without  wetting  my  feet,"  Sam 
Downs  said  with  a  laugh  of  incredulity,  and  then  he 
would  have  gone  on  shore  without  lending  a  hand  to- 
ward taking  off  the  cargo,  but  that  Paul  showed  his 
father's  written  orders  to  the  effect  that  he  and  his 
brother  should  do  their  share  in  the  work  of  installing 
the  station. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  STATION 

WHEN  the  unloading  of  the  Hampton  boat  was  be- 
gun the  Downs  boys  were  by  no  means  willing  work- 
ers, and  had  it  not  been  for  the  positive  instructions 
given  in  Mr.  Simpson's  letter,  it  is  more  than  probable 
they  would  have  absolutely  refused  to  lend  a  hand.  To 
their  minds  Paul  and  Ned  had  concocted  a  ridiculous 
story  of  being  able  to  send  messages  across  the  water 
without  connecting  wires,  and  were  amusing  them- 
selves in  an  attempt  to  deceive. 

Therefore  it  was  that  the  island  lads  worked  sulkily 
at  first;  but  as  the  odd-looking  cargo  was  transferred 
from  the  Hampton  boat  to  the  dory,  they  began  to  have 
an  idea  that  perhaps  this  "fairy  story"  might  have 
some  little  foundation  of  truth. 

The  Downs  boys  were  not  so  simple  but  that  they 
realized  that  this  queer  collection  must  be  connected 
with  something  which  they  had  never  before  seen  or 
heard  about,  and  as  the  work  progressed  their  curiosity 
became  more  and  more  lively,  until  both  were  in  a  state 
of  high  excitement. 

"I'm  not  allowin'  that  there's  any  truth  in  the  yarn 
you've  been  tellin',  an'  surely  I  know  that  this  'ere 
stuff  hasn't  anything  to  do  with  raising  silver  foxes," 
Sam  said  when  they  were  ready  to  go  on  shore,  while 
Paul  was  covering  the  motor  and  otherwise  making  the 
Hampton  boat  ready  for  the  night.  "You've  got  some 

90 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  21 

plan  in  yoar  head  that  I  never  heard  of,  an'  I'll  be  glad 
to  see  it  worked  out." 

"There's  no  use  for  us  to  keep  repeating  that  we 
have  been  telling  the  truth  about  the  possibility  of  send- 
ing messages  without  connecting  wires,"  Ned  said  just 
a  bit  impatiently.  "But  in  twenty- four  hours  after  the 
station  has  been  erected,  and  I  have  gone  back  to  Sea- 
view,  you'll  have  learned  a  lesson  that  will  be  valu- 
able." 

"Well,  seem'  how  we're  bound  to  help  you  in  your 
foolishness,  an'  can't  do  anything  but  wait,  since  we've 
got  to  stay  on  the  island  'cause  it's  our  home,  we  may 
as  well  agree  that  perhaps  there  is  somethin'  at  the  bot- 
tom of  all  this  which  we'll  be  able  to  come  at  later. 
Where  are  you  goin'  to  carry  the  truck?" 

"We'll  store  it  in  your  father's  house  until  we  get  the 
spars  in  position,"  Paul  said  as  he  stepped  on  board  the 
dory,  his  work  of  putting  the  boat  to  rights  having 
come  to  an  end.  "The  first  thing  is  to  find  two  spars 
forty  or  fifty  feet  long.  Are  there  many  trees  on  the 
island?" 

"Quite  a  few;  but  we'll  have  decently  hard  work,  I 
reckon,  to  find  a  couple  as  tall  as  you  want.  I  am  al- 
lowin'  they  will  need  to  be  straight,  eh  ?" 

"That  isn't  absolutely  necessary;  do  the  best  you  can 
for  us." 

"Meanin'  that  Sam  and  me  are  to  look  after  that  end 
of  the  work,  eh?"  Ernest  asked. 

"There  is  no  reason  why  you  shouldn't.  We  can't 
be  of  any  great  assistance  in  felling  timber,  and  may 
have  to  do  some  hunting  around  before  deciding  upon 


22  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

the  site  for  the  station.  You  two  go  ahead  in  your 
own  way.  Is  there  any  lumber  on  the  island  ?" 

"Your  father  sent  four  or  five  thousand  feet  of 
boards,  an'  some  few  scantlin's,"  Sam  replied  with  a 
grin.  "What  are  you  countin'  on  buildin'  ?" 

"A  little  shanty  where  we  can  be  sheltered  from  the 
rain  and  the  wind  while  working  the  apparatus." 

"I  reckon  you've  got  the  right  to  take  what  lumber 
you  want,  seein's  it  belongs  to  your  father.  We  hauled 
it  up  just  back  of  the  barn,  an*  you'll  find  it  there." 

Then  the  dory's  bow  grated  on  the  sand,  and  from 
that  moment  until  the  goods  had  been  carried  to  the 
farm-house  but  little  conversation  was  indulged  in. 

The  Seaview  lads  were  introduced  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Downs,  much  to  their  satisfaction.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  kindly-faced  man  of  perhaps  fifty  years, 
and  his  wife  one  of  those  motherly,  bustling  women 
who  was  evidently  a  good  housewife,  if  one  could 
judge  from  the  cleanliness  of  the  kitchen  into  which 
the  boys  had  been  ushered. 

"So  you've  come  out  here  to  help  me  raise  silver 
foxes,  eh?"  Mr.  Downs  asked  with  a  laugh  that  was 
more  like  a  gurgle  of  water  in  a  long  necked  vessel 
than  anything  betokening  merriment.  "An'  what's  all 
this  truck  you've  brought  ?  Some  new-fangled  idee  for 
the  feedin'  of  the  animals  ?" 

"These  fellows  say  they're  goin'  to  stick  up  a  couple 
of  spars,  an'  twist  all  this  truck  'round  'em,  with  a 
shanty  somewhere  near  at  hand,  an'  then  they  allow  it 
will  be  possible  to  send  word  from  here  to  Seaview  just 
on  the  air,"  Sam  said  with  a  boisterous  laugh,  and  his 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  23 

father  gurgled  until  one  might  have  fancied,  from  the 
crimson  hue  which  overspread  his  face,  that  he  was  in 
danger  of  choking. 

"Mercy  on  us,  father!  What  on  earth  does  Sam 
mean?"  Mrs.  Downs  asked  placidly  as  she  looked  over 
the  top  of  her  spectacles. 

"Just  what  I  said,  ma'am,"  the  lad  added,  laughing 
boisterously.  "They've  been  tryin'  to  stuff  us  with  that 
kind  of  a  yarn  ever  since  we  met  'em  down  at  the 
cove." 

"Sho !  Sho,  Sammy !  Don't  try  to  be  pokin'  fun  at  the 
village  lads,  'cause  likely  enough  they  mean  well.  You 
never  can  tell  what  queer  idees  get  inter  some  f oiks' s 
minds,  an'  if  they  want'er  play  with  this  'ere  lot  of  wire 
an'  stuff,  I  don't  know  what's  to  hinder  'em.  Barren 
island's  big  enough  for  all  kinds  of  contraptions,  pro- 
vidin'  Mr.  Simpson  is  willin'  to  take  the  chances  of  dis- 
turbin'  his  foxes.  An'  that  reminds  me,  son,"  the  old 
gentleman  continued  as  he  turned  toward  Paul,  "when 
are  them  'ere  animiles  goin'  to  be  landed  here?" 

"I  can't  say,  sir;  but  father  believed  they  would  ar- 
rive very  soon.  We  boys  must  do  a  lot  of  work  before 
we  can  get  the  wireless  in  running  order,  and  it's  to  be 
done  before  they  come,  for  it  is  true  that  we  count  on 
sending  messages  from  here  to  Seaview,  as  Sam  says, 
pn  nothing  but  air." 

"Sho  now !  Are  you  goin'  to  try  to  fool  the  old  man 
same's  you  have  the  boys?  Wa'al,  wa'al,  go  ahead, 
lads;  have  your  own  way,,  seem' s  how  your  father 
seems  to  have  fallen  inter  the  same  line  of  idees  that 
you've  got.  Go  ahead,  turn  us  upside  down  if  you 


24 

will ;  but  remember  mother  is  countin'  on  your  showin' 
up  here  for  dinner  at  twelve  o'clock  sharp,  an'  supper 
will  be  ready  'long  about  sundown." 

There  was  no  good  reason  why  the  boys  should 
linger  in  the  house.  They  were  eager  to  get  about  their 
work,  in  order  that  there  might  be  no  question  of  com- 
pleting it  before  the  end  of  Ned's  short  vacation,  and, 
after  urging  Sam  and  Ernest  to  get  the  spars  at  once, 
set  off  to  make  a  selection  of  the  site  for  the  station. 

Barren  island  is  perhaps  three  miles  long,  and  a  mile, 
or  a  mile  and  a  quarter,  in  width.  It  is  a  narrow  strip 
of  reef,  with  soil  to  the  depth  of  four  or  five  feet,  and 
runs  almost  due  north  and  south.  About  two-thirds  of 
the  island  stands  high,  say  thirty  or  forty  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  and  is  quite  thickly  wooded,  while 
the  two  ends  run  with  a  gentle  slope  down  to  the  water. 
The  northerly  point  is  cleft,  or,  as  Mr.  Downs  ex- 
pressed it,  is  "swallow-tailed,"  forming  a  long,  narrow 
cove  which,  under  certain  conditions  of  the  weather, 
makes  a  snug  harbor  for  small  craft;  but  when  the 
wind  comes  from  the  north  or  east  with  any  force,  the 
surf  is  so  heavy  that  it  becomes  impossible  to  effect  a 
landing.  The  southerly  end  tapers  off  into  a  reef 
which  extends  an  hundred  feet  or  more  from  the  land, 
and,  therefore,  cannot  be  approached  closely  by  any 
kind  of  a  vessel. 

Mr.  Downs's  house  is  situated  on  the  west  side,  nearly 
in  the  middle  of  the  island,  and  within  two  hundred 
feet  of  the  shore.  The  out-buildings  extend  back 
nearly  to  the  timbered  section,  which  makes  effective 
screen  against  the  heavy  northerly  and  easterly  winds, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  25 

and  directly  in  front  of  the  dwelling  is  the  cove  where 
the  Hampton  boat  came  to  anchor,  forming  really  the 
only  safe  harbor  to  be  found  on  that  narrow  strip  of 
land. 

As  a  matter  of  course  Paul  and  Ned  were  eager  to 
locate  their  station  on  the  highest  part  of  the  island; 
but  were  forced  to  take  due  heed  to  the  neighborhood 
of  trees,  lest  the  sound  waves  should  be  interrupted, 
and  therefore  it  was  that  they  finally  decided  upon  a 
spot  five  hundred  feet  or  more  from  the  most  northerly 
point,  and  less  than  sixty  yards  from  the  shore  end  of 
the  "swallow-tailed"  cove. 

There  was  no  need  they  should  spend  any  time  in 
deciding  upon  the  general  arrangements,  for  it  was  to 
be  an  exact  duplicate  of  the  station  near  Ned's  home, 
and  Paul  suggested  that  while  waiting  for  the  Downs 
boys  to  fell  the  trees  and  work  them  into  shape,  he  and 
his  comrade  begin  the  erection  of  a  shanty. 

"It  will  take  those  fellows  from  now  until  night  to 
find  a  couple  of  trees,  unless  they  know  exactly  where 
to  go  after  them,  and  they  must  work  lively  with  their 
axes  if  the  two  spars  are  ready  for  us  by  to-morrow 
night,  therefore  we  shall  be  saving  just  so  much  time 
if  we  get  the  shanty  up,"  Paul  said,  and  at  that  moment 
the  sound  of  a  horn  lustily  blown  gave  token  that  the 
dinner  hour  was  come. 

Sam  and  Ernest  were  ready  and  waiting  for  the  meal 
when  the  village  boys  entered  the  dwelling,  and  quite 
as  incredulous  concerning  wireless  telegraphy  as  when 
the  matter  was  first  made  known  to  them. 

"Have  you  been   sending   word   to   Seaview   that 


26 

you've  struck  here?"  Sam  asked  with  a  laugh,  and 
Paul,  thinking  it  was  quite  time  to  put  an  end  to  the 
lad's  sport,  said  boldly : 

"Now  see  here!  We  won't  have  any  more  talk 
about  our  being  able  to  send  messages  on  air.  You 
keep  right  about  the  work  which  we  have  laid  out,  and 
when  everything  is  done  it  will  be  possible  for  you  to 
see  that  we  haven't  been  trying  to  make  fools  of  you. 
What  about  the  trees?" 

"We've  marked  a  couple  that'll  run  fifty  feet  any- 
how. We'll  take  'em  down  in  no  time  after  dinner, 
an'  father  allows  he'll  help  trim  'em  into  shape,  so's 
they  can  be  ready  for  settin'  by  this  time  to-morrow," 
Ernest  announced,  and  then  Mrs.  Downs  interrupted 
the  conversation  by  suggesting  that  they  "hurry  up 
with  their  feedin'  so's  the  dishes  could  be  washed  be- 
fore sundown." 

"We  allers  feel  like  askin'  the  Almighty  to  have  an 
eye  out  on  us,  seein's  we're  so  far  from  all  the  rest  of 
the  world,"  Mr.  Downs  said  as  if  by  way  of  apology  be- 
fore he  gave  thanks  for  the  humble  fare  before  them, 
and  the  lads  from  Seaview  were  not  a  little  surprised 
because  of  the  fervor  with  which  this  dweller  on  Bar- 
ren island  addressed  his  Maker. 

During  the  meal,  which  was  hurriedly  eaten  by  the 
Downs  family,  as  if  time  was  very  precious,  the  head 
of  the  house  asked  many  questions  concerning  the 
scheme  of  making  of  Barren  island  a  silver  fox  farm, 
and  questioned  quite  sharply  the  possibility  of  a  single 
pelt  being  worth  as  much  as  two  hundred  dollars. 

"I  don't  know  very  much  about  father's  plans,  ex- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  27 

cept  that  he  believes  the  foxes  will  be  here  very  soon, 
and  counts  on  making  considerable  money  out  of  the 
venture,  if  we  can  prevent  curious  and  dishonest 
persons  from  molesting  them,"  Paul  replied. 

"I  allow  we  can  do  all  that,  the  boys  an'  me,"  Mr. 
Downs  said  in  a  confident  tone.  "Once  the  time  comes 
that  I  can't  keep  my  eye  on  this  'ere  island  to  the  ex- 
tent of  knowin'  whether  anybody  lands  or  not,  it's  up 
to  me  to  go  an'  mix  with  the  folks  ashore." 

"But  if  the  foxes  breed,  and  it  must  be  true  that  the 
fur  is  valuable  otherwise  father  wouldn't  have  gone 
into  the  business  so  extensively,  there  will  very  likely 
be  some  disreputable  persons  who'll  try  to  steal  them, 
and  it  won't  be  any  easy  matter  even  for  you  and  your 
two  sons  to  keep  watch  over  all  the  shore." 

"There's  quite  an  'if  in  that  'ere  remark,  sonny," 
Mr.  Downs  replied  with  gurgling  laughter.  "In  the 
first  place  you've  got  to  get  the  foxes  here,  an'  if  they 
are  anything  like  the  animiles  we've  got  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  it'll  be  quite  a  spell  before  any  man 
can  get  hold  of  'em,  once  they're  let  loose  in  the  timber. 
An'  then  again,  you've  got  to  find  people  who'll  believe 
a  fox  pelt  is  worth  two  hundred  dollars.  After  all 
that's  been  done,  we  know  just  where  anybody  can  get 
ashore  here,  an'  where  they  can't.  It  ain't  to  be  done 
at  the  southerly  end,  nor  on  the  easterly  side,  so  it's  a 
case,  as  I  told  your  father,  of  keepin'  our  eyes  out  on 
the  harbor  yonder,  an'  on  Swallow-Tailed  cove. 
That's  about  the  size  of  it,  an'  if  three  of  us  ain't  able 
to  do  that  much,  it's  time  we  got  a  few  children  to  help 
us.  Now  will  you  tell  me  what  part  of  the  business 


28  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

you're  countin'  on  runnin'  with  all  them  contraptions 
that  are  piled  up  there?''  and  the  farmer  motioned  to- 
ward the  goods  which  were  stowed  in  one  corner  of  the 
kitchen. 

Then  it  was  that  Paul  explained,  as  clearly  as  was 
possible,  the  purpose  for  which  wireless  telegraphy 
would  be  maintained,  and  concluded  by  saying : 

"It  may  be  that  we  shall  never  really  need  to  send 
word  to  Seaview,  and  yet  the  time  might  come  when  it 
would  be  of  great  importance.  Ned  and  I  have  a  sta- 
tion at  home  where  messages  can  be  received.  So  far 
we  have  done  very  little  in  the  way  of  sending,  because 
so  much  power  was  needed.  Now  we  have  all  that  is 
required  in  a  4-horse  oil  engine." 

"Wa'al,  wa'al,  I  declare!"  Mr.  Downs  exclaimed  as 
he  rubbed  his  chin  reflectively.  "I  reckon  there  must 
be  some  little  truth  in  the  yarn,  else  your  father 
wouldn't  have  fitted  you  out  in  such  a  fashion,  an'  that 
'ere  stuff  most  likely  cost  a  power  of  money.  The  boys 
an'  me  will  do  all  we  can  toward  helpin'  you  along,  an' 
Sam  shan't  poke  any  more  fun  at  the  business,  ridic- 
ulous as  it  seems.  Now  then,  if  we  are  all  filled  up  let's 
get  to  work." 

If  one  should  set  down  in  detail  all  that  was  done  on 
Barren  island  during  the  week  which  followed,  it 
would  be  dull  reading,  and  take  up  so  much  of  space 
that  the  story  of  what  wireless  telegraphy  did  for  Sil- 
ver Fox  Farm  could  not  be  told.  Therefore  it  is  that 
the  reader  must  be  content  with  a  brief  account  of  what 
was  accomplished  during  those  seven  days. 

The  two  spars  were  set  in  the  ground  to  the  depth  of 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  29 

four  feet,  with  wire  guys  leading  from  either  side  of 
each  to  hold  them  securely.  At  the  head  of  these  spars 
was  made  fast  a  pulley  and  tackle,  by  which  the  an- 
tenna, or  aerial,  could  be  raised  and  lowered. 

This  aerial  was  of  the  type  known  as  Lodge-Muir- 
head,  nineteen  feet  in  length,  by  six  and  one-half  feet 
in  width,  and  formed  of  copper  wires  on  wooden  rods, 
with  a  brace  in  the  middle  to  keep  the  central  wires 
stiff. 

The  shanty,  or  building,  in  which  the  operators 
could  be  screened  from  the  weather  was  situated  per- 
haps twenty  feet  south  of  the  spars,  and  with  the  aerial 
wire  entering  the  building  through  a  thick  tube  of  eb- 
onite having  a  small  rain-hood  over  it. 

The  remainder  of  the  apparatus  was,  as  has  been 
said,  that  which  is  used  in  the  Signal  Corps  of  the 
United  States  Army,  being  set  up  in  trunks  which  only 
required  to  be  opened  in  order  that  everything  be  in 
readiness  for  working.  Just  outside  the  shanty,  under 
a  small  boxlike  hood,  was  the  oil  engine,  and  regard- 
ing the  power  needed  for  the  sending  of  messages,  the 
boys  were  forced  to  guess,  believing  they  would  not  be 
warranted  in  attempting  to  work  at  a  distance  greater 
than  a  hundred  miles.  In  the  case  of  communication 
with  Seaview,  only  twenty-two  miles  away,  Paul  de- 
cided that  if  they  had  three  kilowatts,  or,  in  other 
words,  4-horsepower,  which  would  be  equivalent  to 
three  thousand  watts,  it  should  be  possible  for  them  to 
accomplish  all  that  might  be  required. 

The  shanty  had  not  been  carefully  built,  save  with 
a  view  of  making  it  serve  as  a  screen  against  the  rain, 


30  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

and  to  shelter  the  operator  from  the  strong  winds 
which  blow  across  Barren  island  with  great  violence  at 
times.  That  it  could  also  be  used  as  a  lookout  sta- 
tion, panes  of  glass,  twelve  by  twenty  inches,  had  been 
set  at  many  points,  so  that  one  might  command  a  view 
of  the  entire  northerly  end,  including  Swallow-Tailed 
cove.  Later,  when  it  could  be  brought  over  from  the 
mainland,  Paul  proposed  to  set  up  a  small  stove,  and 
counted  on  building  a  bunk  against  the  wall,  so  that  if 
need  arose  he  might  spend  his  entire  time  there. 

It  was  when  all  this  was  done,  and  the  village  lads 
had  announced  that  the  work  had  been  completed,  that 
Sam  cried  in  a  tone  of  irony : 

"Now  let's  hear  you  talk  to  the  folks  over  at  Sea- 
view  ?" 

"But  surely  you  don't  count  we  can  do  it  until  Ned 
goes  back,"  Paul  said  with  a  laugh.  "And  even  then 
we  must  tune  the  two  stations  so  that  one  will  respond 
to  the  other." 

"So  you  tune  'em  up  same's  you  do  a  fiddle,  eh?" 
and  Sam  went  into  convulsions  of  mirth,  while  his 
father  gurgled  and  grew  red  in  the  face,  as  if  on  the 
point  of  choking. 

"Well,  that's  pretty  nearly  what  we  do  count  on  do- 
ing," Paul  replied.  "You  see,  we  don't  expect  to  open 
communication  with  any  other  station  than  Ned's  at 
Seaview,  and  after  we  shall  tune  the  two  apparatus  so 
that  the  wave  lengths  are  exact,  you'll  find  that  there 
will  be  no  difficulty  whatsoever  in  my  talking  with  him 
whenever  he  is  at  his  instrument ;  but  it  is  necessary  for 
him  to  be  at  home  before  that  can  be  done." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  31 

"I  allowed  you'd  have  some  trouble,"  Ernest  said 
as  he  turned  on  his  heel.  "Accordin'  to  the  story  we 
heard  when  you  first  come  ashore,  it  was  only  a  ques- 
tion of  gettin'  this  thing  inter  shape,  an'  then  you'd 
show  us ;  but  now  we've  got  to  wait  till  you  carry  him 
back,  an'  after  that  it'll  be  somethin'  else.  I  allow  to 
be  gray-headed  before  you  do  what  you  said  could  be 
done." 

It  was  no  longer  possible  for  the  island  lads  to  fret 
Paul.  He  knew  that  his  station  was  completed  and 
in  good  shape,  and  Ned's  would  be  shortly  after  they 
returned  to  the  village  to  set  up  the  second  oil  engine. 
Therefore  he  held  his  peace  and  immediately  made 
ready  to  return  to  the  mainland,  for  there  was  yet  time 
to  put  the  Hampton  boat  into  Seaview  and  back  before 
nightfall. 

To  Sam  and  Ernest  this  powerful  motor  boat  was  of 
more  interest  than  anything  in  the  way  of  wireless 
telegraphy  could  possibly  be,  and  there  was  no  tone  of 
irony  or  mirth  in  their  voices  when  they  begged  per- 
mission to  go  to  the  village. 

"I'd  like  to  run  over  to  Seaview  an'  back  once  in  a 
craft  like  that,"  Sam  said  in  a  tone  of  envy,  and  Paul 
replied  without  hesitation: 

"You  shall  do  it,  and  perhaps  once  there,  after  see- 
ing that  Ned  has  just  such  a  station  near  his  house  as 
we  have  put  up  here,  you  will  begin  to  believe  there 
must  be  some  little  truth  in  our  statements  that  it  is 
possible  to  send  a  message  on  nothing  but  air." 

The  island  boys  were  loud  in  their  praise,  of  the 
Hampton  boat.  She  was  so  swift,  and  there  was  in  her 


32  THE  WIREtESS  STATION 

movements  such  a  sense  of  power  as  she  breasted  the 
waves,  which  they,  accustomed  to  plying  to  and  fro  in 
their  dories,  were  unfamiliar  with,  that  she  was  a  rev- 
elation in  sea  architecture  to  them. 

They  knew  nothing  whatsoever  concerning  wireless 
telegraphy.  In  fact,  were  totally  skeptical  as  to  its  pos- 
sibilities ;  but  both  were  keenly  alive  to  the  beauty  and 
strength  of  such  a  craft  as  they  were  then  in,  and  for 
the  first  time  since  Paul  and  Ned  had  landed  on  Barren 
island,  did  the  Downs  boys  begin  to  fancy  there  was  a 
chance  that  these  village  lads  might  have  in  them  more 
than  had  at  first  been  shown. 

"Coin'  to  keep  her  out  at  the  island  all  summer,  are 
you?"  Sam  asked  eagerly,  and  added  when  Ned 
nodded  in  the  affirmative: 

"Say,  will  you  show  me  how  to  run  her?" 

"Of  course  I  will,  and  you  shall  take  your  first  les- 
son now.  All  you  need  is  to  understand  the  working 
of  the  motor,  so  that  it  will  be  possible  for  you  to  find 
out  what,  if  anything,  may  go  wrong." 

Then,  while  Ned  steered,  Paul  gave  a  lesson  in 
motors  to  the  Downs  boys,  and  much  to  their  delight 
allowed  them  to  care  for  the  delicate,  glistening  ma- 
chinery, which  he  watched,  however,  with  jealous  eyes. 
The  lads  paid  no  attention  to  the  passage  of  time  until 
the  Hampton  boat  was  run  alongside  the  pier  at 
Seaview. 

"How  long  has  it  been  since  you  came  over  here?" 
Ned  asked  when  the  craft  was  made  fast,  and  Sam's 
face  was  gleaming  with  pride  because  he  it  was  who 
had  stopped  the  motor. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  33 

"Nigh  on  to  a  year,  I  reckon." 

"Suppose  you  come  up  to  town  with  me?  I'll  show 
you  the  other  wireless  station,  and  you  can  go  into  the 
stores.  There  isn't  much  to  be  seen  here,  but  you'll 
find  a  good  deal  more  than  on  Barren  island." 

"I  reckon  we'll  stay  right  where  we  are,"  Ernest  re- 
plied gravely.  "This  'ere  boat  is  enough  for  me,  an'  I 
get  all  kind'er  mixed  up  when  I  go  ashore,  'cause  there 
are  so  many  people  and  houses.  How  long  are  you 
goin'  to  stop,  Paul?" 

"Perhaps  an  hour." 

"Then  you'll  find  us  right  here  when  you  come  back, 
an'  I  reckon,  if  you  don't  make  any  objections,  we'll 
get  the  hang  of  this  'ere  motor  before  you  come 
back." 

"Go  ahead,"  Paul  replied  laughingly.  "Nose  about 
as  much  as  you  please,  only  my  advice  is  that  you  don't 
try  to  start  her,  for  fear  you'd  have  trouble  in  stop- 
ping." 

"Don't  you  worry  your  head  over  our  gettin'  into 
any  such  a  mess  as  that  might  be,  'cause  we  know  our 
failin'  an'  ain't  takin'  any  chances.  Go  on  an'  fix 
up  your  business,  an'  the  sooner  you're  back  the  better, 
for  I  want  to  feel  this  'ere  boat  under  my  feet  once 
more." 

It  so  chanced  that  Paul  did  not  return  as  soon  as  he 
had  expected.  When  he  met  his  father,  it  was  to  learn 
that  the  silver  foxes  had  arrived  the  day  previous,  and 
Mr.  Simpson  proposed  that  they  be  carried  to  the  isl- 
and at  once. 

The  animals  were  confined  in  iron-lined,  wooden 


34  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

cases,  with  no  other  apertures  than  was  necessary  to 
admit  of  their  being  fed ;  but  Paul  could  get  a  glimpse 
now  and  then  of  the  blue-black,  silvery  fur  as  the  foxes 
moved  restlessly  about  whenever  any  one  approached 
their  prisons. 

"You  told  me  the  Downs  boys  were  here  with  you?" 
Mr.  Simpson  said  inquiringly,  after  Paul  had  satisfied 
his  curiosity  regarding  the  rare,  fur-bearing  animals. 
"I  am  going  to  trust  you  lads  to  take  these  foxes  over 
to  the  island.  Just  before  nightfall  will  be  a  good  time 
to  set  them  at  liberty.  You  are  to  remember  how  valu- 
able they  are,  and  take  every  precaution  against  an  ac- 
cident." 

It  would  have  pleased  Paul  better  had  his  father  at- 
tended to  the  transhipping  of  the  foxes,  yet  he  was 
not  a  little  proud  because  of  being  entrusted  with  such 
work. 

In  order  that  the  Hampton  boat  might  make  the  voy- 
age before  nightfall,  the  cages  were  carted  at  once  to 
the  pier,  and  there  stowed  on  board  the  craft  in  such  a 
manner  that  even  though  the  sea  should  run  high,  there 
would  be  little  danger  of  water  coming  up  on  the  boxes. 
After  all  this  had  been  done,  Mr.  Simpson  once  more 
urged  upon  his  son  the  necessity  of  caution  in  the  task 
of  liberating  the  prisoners. 

"Be  careful  not  to  move  them  too  roughly  when  you 
take  the  cages  ashore,  and  have  all  six  carried  up  to  the 
timber-land  before  you  begin  to  liberate  them.  Then 
strive  to  let  them  out  at  nearly  the  same  moment. 
They  have  been  many  weeks  cramped  up  in  that  nar- 
row space,  and  must  by  this  time  be  so  terrified  and 


35 

wild  that  unless  they  can  see  their  mates  it  is  possible 
mischief  may  come  of  it." 

"After  we  have  let  them  out,  what  is  to  be  done, 
sir?"  Sam  asked. 

"Nothing  for  the  first  twenty-four  hours;  then 
throw  a  few  fish  around  near  the  spring  in  the  woods, 
and  do  not  go  into  the  timber  except  to  carry  such  food. 
From  the  moment  you  have  landed  a  sharp  lookout 
must  be  kept  lest  stsangers  come  on  to  the  island." 

"But  don't  you  want  us  to  make  certain  the  foxes 
are  all  right?"  Ernest  asked  in  surprise. 

"Leave  them  strictly  alone.  Each  night  for  a  week 
you  are  to  carry  fish  in  to  them ;  but  see  to  it  that  no 
one  of  you  goes  among  the  timber." 

"That's  plain  enough,"  Sam  said  with  a  laugh.  "I 
reckon  we  can  raise  silver  foxes  on  Barren  island  even 
if  we  don't  make  such  a  howlin'  success  of  that  'ere 
wireless  contrivance,  as  you  call  it,  though  'cordin'  to 
all  I've  seen,  one  scheme's  got  as  much  sense  in  it  as  the 
other." 

"So  your  station  is  in  working  order?"  Mr.  Simp- 
son asked  Paul. 

"It  will  be  by  to-morrow  noon,  when  we  have  put 
it  in  tune  with  Ned's  apparatus." 

"As  soon  as  you  can  communicate,  let  me  know  how 
you  succeeded  in  setting  the  foxes  free,"  Mr.  Simpson 
said  in  a  businesslike  tone  which  caused  Sam  and 
Ernest  to  look  curiously  at  each  other,  for  they  began 
to  understand  that  their  employer  had  quite  as  much 
faith  in  the  possibility  of  sending  messages  on  air  as 
had  his  son. 


36  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Then  the  Hampton  boat  was  backed  out  from  the 
dock,  Ned  shouted  his  farewells,  coupled  with  the  an- 
nouncement that  if  it  should  be  possible  for  him  to  earn 
another  holiday  by  extra  study,  he  would  come  over  in 
the  old  dory  for  a  short  visit. 

Mr.  Simpson  again  warned  them  as  to  care  in  hand- 
ling the  foxes,  and  the  return  voyage  was  begun. 


CHAPTER  III 

FREEING  THE  FOXES 

SAM  and  Ernest  devoted  less  care  to  the  Hampton 
boat  during  the  return  trip  than  had  been  previously 
bestowed  upon  her.  The  fact  that  the  silver  foxes  were 
on  board  excited  them  not  a  little,  for  until  this  mo- 
ment the  scheme  of  the  fox  farm  had  seemed  to  them 
as  intangible  as  the  possibility  of  sending  messages  on 
air. 

Now,  however,  the  animals  were  in  their  keeping. 
There  could  no  longer  be  any  question  as  to  Mr.  Simp- 
son's' power  to  carry  out  his  purpose,  and  quite  nat- 
urally the  first  question  in  the  minds  of  all  on  board 
the  Hampton  boat  was  as  to  whether  the  venture  would 
be  a  paying  one. 

Sam  and  Ernest  were  of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Simp- 
son had  made  a  grievous  mistake  when  he  declared  that 
a  first-class  pelt  of  the  silver  fox  was  worth  not  less 
than  two  hundred  dollars,  and  might  bring  a  much 
larger  price,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  market. 
They  had  only  in  mind  the  native  fox,  and  were 
slow  to  believe  that  the  animal  they  knew  so  well  could 
have  a  cousin  whose  hide  was  valued  at  so  much 
money. 

"My  father  would  not  go  into  this  business  until  he 
knew  all  about  it,"  Paul  said  stoutly  while  the  Hamp- 
ton boat  was  racing  swiftly  and  steadily  across  the 
curling  waves.  "It  is  not  likely  he  would  pay  seven 

37 


38  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

hundred  dollars  for  two  animals  unless  their  pelts  were 
of  great  value." 

"Seven  hundred  dollars!"  Sam  repeated  incredu- 
lously, and  Ernest  gazed  at  Paul  as  if  believing  the  lad 
had  made  some  mistake  in  the  amount.  "Do  you  mean 
to  tell  me  he  paid  seven  hundred  dollars  for  two 
foxes?" 

"That's  what  each  pair  cost  him,  and  before  they 
breed  he  will  have  spent  twice  the  amount  of  money 
that  these  animals  represent." 

"Wa'al,"  Sam  cried  in  a  tone  of  conviction,  "all  I 
can  say  is  that  your  father  must  be  easy,  if  he  puts  up 
so  much  money  for  six  measly  foxes.  I  thought  he 
was  kind'er  out  of  his  head  when  he  hired  father  and 
us  boys  to  look  after  'em,  an'  then  I  counted  he  was 
gettin'  the  foxes  for  nothin';  but  seven  hundred  for 
two!  Talk  about  a  fool  an'  his  money!" 

"You'll  sing  a  different  tune  if  these  fellows  breed, 
and  he  begins  to  sell  the  pelts  at  a  big  price,"  Paul  said 
hotly,  for  he  was  not  pleased  to  hear  his  father's  plans 
derided. 

"Yes,  I  reckon  I  shall,"  and  Sam  turned  his  atten- 
tion once  more  to  the  helm.  "But  I'm  allowin'  it'll  be 
a  good  deal  with  the  foxes  as  it  is  with  that  scheme  of 
yours.  There'll  allers  be  somethin'  to  prevent  it  from 
goin'  through  smoothlike." 

"Why,  hasn't  that  scheme  of  mine  gone  through  all 
right?"  Paul  asked  in  surprise. 

"I  don't  make  out  as  it  has,"  and  Sam  turned  quickly 
as  if  believing  now  had  come  the  time  to  prove  that 
the  statements  made  by  Paul  and  Ned  were  false. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  39 

"You  allowed  to  send  word  over  to  Seaview  as  soon 
as  that  'ere  lot  of  wire  an'  poles  were  put  up,  an'  what 
about  it  ?  You  say  it  wants  tunin' !  Now  when  you 
talk  to  me  about  tunin'  a  bird  cage  like  the  one  you've 
got  strung  up,  why  I  say  it's  carry  in'  the  thing  a  little 
too  far,  same's  I  say  when  your  father  tells  'bout  gettin' 
two  hundred  dollars  for  a  fox's  pelt." 

"We  won't  talk  about  it,  Sam,"  Ernest  said,  laying 
a  hand  on  his  brother's  shoulder  as  if  to  remind  the  lad 
that  he  was  lacking  in  respect  to  his  employer  and  his 
employer's  son.  "If  Mr.  Simpson  wants  to  pay  out 
seven  hundred  dollars  for  a  pair  of  wooden  chickens, 
what  business  is  it  of  ours,  an'  if  Paul  an'  his  friend 
are  willin'  to  spend  a  week  makin'  guys  of  themselves, 
it's  nothin'  to  us,  so  long's  they  pay  for  it." 

"That's  just  it,"  Paul  added  emphatically.  "You 
two  and  your  father  are  hired  to  look  after  the  island, 
meaning  the  foxes  and  the  wireless  station,  and  you'll 
get  your  wages  just  the  same  whether  both  schemes 
go  to  smash  or  not.  But  mark  my  words,  before 
this  summer  has  come  to  an  end  you  will  realize 
that  that  bird  cage  of  mine  is  something  mighty 
big." 

Sam  made  no  reply,  probably  because  he  realized  that 
it  was  not  well  for  him  to  speak  of  what  was  being 
done  on  Barren  island  in  tones  of  derision,  and  Paul 
remained  silent  owing  to  being  nettled  at  the  boys' 
remarks.  Ernest  could  not  well  carry  on  a  conversa- 
tion with  himself,  and,  going  forward,  he  stretched  out 
at  full  length  on  the  hood  which  covered  the  boat's  bow, 
watching  with  sailorly  eyes  the  little  craft  as  she  cut 


40 

through  the  curling  waves,  throwing  the  water  either 
side  into  flecks  of  foam. 

Because  of  the  time  spent  in  putting  the  foxes 
aboard,  Paul  remained  longer  in  Seaview  than  had 
been  his  intention,  and  now,  with  the  return  voyage  no 
more  than  half  made,  the  sun  had  sunk  behind  the  hills 
on  the  mainland,  while  the  gray  twilight  was  rapidly 
deepening  into  blackness. 

"We  ought  not  have  stayed  so  long,"  he  said,  break- 
ing the  silence  which  had  continued  for  ten  or  fif- 
teen minutes.  "It  was  our  duty  to  get  there  before 
dark." 

"What  difference  does  it  make?"  Sam  asked  care- 
lessly. "I  can  put  this  'ere  craft  inter  the  cove  an' 
anchor  her  as  well  in  the  darkest  night  you  ever  saw, 
as  when  the  sun  is  shininV 

"But  I  was  thinking  of  the  work  to  be  done  after 
we  get  there." 

"You  mean  settin'  the  foxes  free?  There's  nothing 
to  trouble  you  in  that,  'cause  your  father  allowed  it 
would  be  better  for  us  to  turn  'em  out  in  the  night,  an' 
I'm  reckonin'  they'll  find  it  black  enough  among  the 
timber  by  the  time  we  get  'em  up  there.  Hello !  What's 
that  craft  ahead?  It  looks  like  John  Ed  Bingham's 
dory." 

"Who's  he?"  Paul  asked,  straining  his  eyes  into  the 
gloom  to  make  out  that  of  which  the  lad  had  spoken. 

"Wa'al,  he's —  I  s'pose  he  calls  himself  a  fisherman ; 
but  'cordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'  he's  most  anythin' 
when  there's  a  dollar  to  be  made.  Folks  do  say  that 
he's  smuggled  a  pile  of  rum  from  down  Campobello 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  41 

way  in  his  day,  an'  I  reckon  there's  considerable  truth 
in  it" 

"Where  does  he  live?" 

"Down  on  the  coast  fifteen  or  twenty  miles — per- 
haps more." 

"It's  strange  I  never  saw  him  at  Seaview,"  Paul 
said  half  to  himself,  and  a  certain  feeling  of  anxiety 
came  over  him,  although  he  could  not  have  said  why 
he  should  be  disturbed  because  this  fisherman,  smug- 
gler, or  whatever  he  might  be  called,  chanced  to  be  in 
their  course  just  then. 

"Wa'al,  I  allow  John  Ed  don't  count  on  showin'  him- 
self any  too  much,  especially  over  your  way,  where 
Captain  Tobi  Thompson  might  make  trouble  for  him." 

"What  has  he  done  to  Captain  Tobi  ?" 

"Wa'al,  the  way  I've  heard  the  story  is  that  six  or 
seven  years  ago  he  bought  Captain  Tobi's  sloop  Zoe; 
paid  ten  dollars  on  the  nail,  an'  'greed  to  come  up  with 
the  balance  as  soon  as  he  could  get  down  to  Quoddy 
Head  and  back.  He's  never  got  back  yet,  I  reckon,  an' 
what  surprises  me  is  that  a  man  as  close-fisted  as  Cap- 
tain Tobi  should  ever  have  let  the  sloop  go  without 
gettin'  the  cash  right  in  his  fist." 

While  one  might  have  counted  ten  Paul  remained 
silent,  and  then,  unduly  anxious  because  of  the  cargo, 
and  understanding  how  much  of  mischief  might  be 
done  if  the  foxes  were  disturbed  shortly  after  they  had 
been  set  free,  he  asked  sharply : 

"What's  the  man  doing  put  here  in  the  night?  He 
can't  be  fishing?" 

"It  would  take  a  wiser  head  than  I've  got  to  an- 


42  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

swer  that  question,"  Sam  replied  with  a  laugh.  "Why, 
anybody  who  knows  John  Ed  wouldn't  be  surprised  to 
find  him  standin'  right  up  a  cabbage  patch  at  midnight, 
any  more  than  they'd  be  to  see  him  knockin'  'round  in 
that  dory  of  his  while  a  nor'easter  was  tunin'  up 
at  the  rate  of  fifty  miles  an  hour.  You  can  set  it  down, 
though,  that  he  has  got  something  in  his  mind  with  a 
dollar  tailin'  to  the  end  of  it." 

"Does  he  ever  come  to  Barren  island?" 

"Yes,  pokes  his  nose  in  there  once  in  a  while;  but 
father  ain't  stuck  on  him.  He  says  if  he  had  a  ten-ton 
anchor  on  the  beach  an  John  Ed  happened  along,  he 
should  feel  as  though  it  was  his  duty  to  bolt  the  iron 
right  down  on  the  ledge,  else  he'd  lose  it.  There's 
Capt'in  Willard  of  the  Eliza  Ann,  he  vows  an'  de- 
clares that  one  night  when  he  was  layin'  off  Monhegan 
John  Ed  got  away  with  all  his  fore-rigging.  But  then, 
that  ain't  so  much  of  a  yarn  when  you  come  to  consider 
what  wild  ones  Capt'in  Willard  can  spin." 

By  this  time  Paul  could  make  out  with  reasonable 
distinctness  a  weather-worn  dory  in  which  was  a  single 
occupant,  who  was  resting  on  his  oars  directly  in  the 
Hampton  boat's  course. 

"It  looks  as  if  John  Ed  was  waitin'  for  us,"  Ernest 
cried  as  he  rose  to  a  sitting  posture.  "It  wouldn't 
s'prise  me  if  the  old  scoundrel  wanted  a  tow.  My !  but 
won't  mother  look  black  when  she  sees  him  turn  up  at 
the  house  for  a  night's  lodgin'!" 

"That's  what  he  can't  be  allowed  to  do,"  Paul  said 
sternly.  "My  father's  orders  are  that  no  one  shall  land 
on  Barren  island  without  his  permission  while  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  43 

foxes  are  there,  and  surely  we  won't  disobey  him  at  the 
very  start." 

"But  what  will  you  do  if  John  Ed  wants  a  tow?" 
Ernest  asked,  and  Paul  replied  promptly : 

"Tell  him  he  can't  have  it." 

"All  right;  but  I'm  allowin'  you'll  have  to  do  the 
talkin'.  I  haven't  got  any  love  for  John  Ed;  but  at  the 
same  time  don't  hanker  after  makin'  an  enemy  of  him." 

"Are  you  afraid  of  a  man  whom  you  admit  is  dis- 
honest ?" 

"Well,  I  won't  say  exactly  that ;  but  I  ain't  tumblin' 
over  myself  to  get  his  ill  will." 

"It  doesn't  seem  to  me  as  if  he  could  be  very  danger- 
ous," and  Paul  forced  himself  to  laugh,  but  there  was 
nothing  of  mirth-  in  his  tones. 

"That's  'cordin'  to  how  you  look  at  things,"  Sam 
said,  and  now  he  spoke  in  a  serious  tone.  "Nobody 
can  prove  that  John  Ed  ever  did  anythin'  very  wrong, 
except  so  far  as  smugglin'  rum  is  concerned ;  but  them 
as  he's  turned  against  have  had  a  pile  of  trouble  one 
way  or  another,  an'  he  gets  all  the  credit  of  it." 

There  was  no  further  opportunity  for  conversation 
of  a  private  nature,  for  the  power  boat  had  drawn  so 
near  the  battered  dory  that  the  idle  oarsman  might 
have  overheard  that  which  was  said  regarding  him. 

"Swing  ever  so  little  to  port,  so  that  we  shan't  go 
too  near  him,  and  I'll  answer  his  questions  if  he  asks 
any,"  Paul  said  in  a  low  tone  as  he  increased  the  speed 
of  the  motor,  and  a  few  moments  later  came  the  hail : 

"Ahoy  on  the  power  boat  1" 

"Ahoy!"  Paul  shouted. 


44  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Hold  up  a  bit." 

"What  for?" 

"Bound  for  Barren  island,  ain't  you?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  I  want  a  tow." 

"You  can't  have  it;  we're  in  a  hurry." 

"What's  that  you  say?" 

Paul  made  no  reply,  and  the  Hampton  boat  dashed 
on,  throwing  the  spray  over  her  bow  to  the  discomfi- 
ture of  Ernest,  as  if  she,  like  Paul,  was  eager  to  put  a 
greater  distance  between  herself  and  the  fisherman- 
smuggler. 

Glancing  back  ever  so  slightly  over  his  shoulder, 
Paul  could  see  the  man  standing  erect  in  his  dory  gaz- 
ing toward  the  Hampton  boat  as  if  too  much  astonished 
to  admit  of  his  speaking,  and  then,  in  an  instant,  anger 
took  the  place  of  surprise,  when  he  burst  into  a  torrent 
of  rage. 

"Won't  give  me  a  tow,  eh?"  Won't  make  my  line 
fast  when  it  wouldn't  cost  you  half  a  minute's  time? 
Think  I  don't  know  you,  eh  ?  Got  an  idee  I  ain't  up  to 
Ben  Simpson's  fool  trick  of  startin'  a  fox  farm  ?  Leave 
an  old  man  way  off  here  in  the  night  pullin'  his  arms 
out  when  you  might'er  helped  him  into  port?  If  you 
don't  rue  this  night's  work  my  name  ain't  John  Ed 
Bingham." 

The  angry  man  could  be  seen  standing  in  his  dory 
gesticulating  wildly  even  when  the  Hampton  boat  was 
so  far  away  that  it  was  impossible  to  hear  his  words, 
and  Sam  Downs  said  in  a  half  whisper,  as  if  afraid  to 
speak  aloud: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  45 

"You  can  count  on  it,  Paul,  that  he'll  keep  his  word 
if  ever  the  chance  comes.  He's  heard  'bout  turnin'  Bar- 
ren island  inter  a  fox  farm,  an'  was  countin'  on  seein' 
what  had  been  done.  Now  you've  shut  down  hard  on 
him,  an'  he'll  know  what  them  'ere  foxes  look  like  be- 
fore next  fall,  or  I'll  eat  my  head." 

"If  he  does,  then  your  father,  and  your  brother,  and 
you  will  have  neglected  your  duty,"  Paul  cried  angrily, 
and  striving  to  prevent  the  vague  fear  in  his  heart  from 
being  betrayed  by  his  voice.  "All  of  you  have  insisted 
that  it  will  be  possible  to  prevent  any  person  from  land- 
ing, and  at  the  very  first  threat  an  old  reprobate  makes, 
you  allow  that  he  can  come  on  the  island  whenever  he 
pleases." 

"I  don't  allow  anythin'  of  the  kind,"  was  the  heated 
retort.  "We  can  keep  the  general  run  of  folks  from 
makin'  a  landin'  on  the  island,  but  when  it  comes  to 
one  like  John  Ed  Bingham,  we're  apt  to  be  downed." 

"Is  he  so  much  different  from  other  men  that  you 
can't  guard  the  place  against  him  ?" 

"Wait  till  you  know  him  better,  then  there  won't  be 
any  need  of  my  answerin'  the  question,"  Sam  replied 
sulkily,  and  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  as  if  he  was 
not  inclined  to  continue  the  conversation. 

Now  really  there  was  no  reason  why  Paul  should 
feel  disturbed  in  mind  because  of  having  refused  this 
John  Ed  Bingham,  smuggler  or  fisherman,  a  tow  to 
Barren  island,  and  yet  such  was  the  case.  He  had  done 
no  more  than  obey  his  father's  oft-repeated  commands, 
by  refusing  to  take  the  man  on  forbidden  ground,  and 
yet  he  could  not  prevent  a  certain  undefined  fear  that 


46  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

because  of  such  refusal  he  had  worked  in  some  way,  he 
could  not  have  explained  how,  an  injury  to  the  silver 
fox  experiment. 

"I  had  to  do  it,"  he  muttered  to  himself,  as  if  trying 
to  apologize  for  performing  his  duty.  "Of  course  I 
can't  prevent  him  from  following  us ;  but  it  will  be 
easier  to  keep  him  off  the  island  than  to  have  sent  him 
away  after  I  had  deliberately  carried  him  there." 

By  dint  of  dwelling  upon  the  matter,  and  straining 
his  imagination  in  the  effort  to  fancy  what  harm  John 
Ed  Bingham  might  do,  Paul  succeeded  in  working 
himself  into  a  very  unenviable  frame  of  mind,  and 
when  they  had  come  so  near  their  destination  that  Sam 
warned  him  to  be  ready  to  stop  the  motor  because  of  be- 
ing well  into  the  harbor,  he  looked  furtively  over  either 
shoulder  as  if  expecting  that  the  old  smuggler  might 
be  close  aboard. 

"Stop  her!"  Sam  shouted.  "Let  go  the  killock, 
Ernest!"  and  as  the  boat's  way  was  checked  until  she 
swung  to  her  cable,  Master  Downs  said  in  a  tone  of  tri- 
umph: 

"Talk  'bout  runnin'  a  boat  in  the  night!  Why  I'll 
eat  my  head,  an*  yours,  too,  if  she  don't  lay  within 
three  fathom  of  where  she  did  last  week.  Now  what 
about  your  bloomin'  foxes  ?" 

"They  must  be  taken  ashore  at  once,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  and  then  got  up  into  the  woods  in  some  way," 
Paul  replied  decidedly,  and  thanks  to  the  fact  that  it 
was  necessary  he  take  charge  of  unlading  the  valuable 
cargo,  the  lad  momentarily  forgot  the  fears  which  had 
been  aroused  by  the  threats  of  John  Ed. 


AT  SILvrER  FOX  FARM  47 

"We  can  do  the  last  part  of  it  easier  than  the  first, 
'cause  father'll  hook  the  steers  to  the  hay-rick,  and 
we'll  have  the  foxes  up  there  in  a  jiffy.  It's  gettin'  'em 
ashore  that's  botherin'  me." 

"We'll  put  two.  boxes  in  the  dory,"  Ernest  said  as  he 
unmoored  the  craft  which  had  been  left  behind  at  the 
anchorage  when  the  Hampton  boat  was  sent  off  toward 
the  mainland.  "You  an'  I,  Sam,  will  both  go  ashore, 
take  out  the  two  cages,  an'  then  while  I'm  runnin' 
up  to  the  house  for  father  an'  the  steers,  you  can 
get  back  after  another  load,  with  Paul  to  help  you 
handle  it." 

That  this  was  the  most  expeditious  method  of  per- 
forming the  task  the  lad  from  Seaview  understood  at 
once,  and  without  further  word  two  of  the  cages  were 
taken  gingerly  over  the  rail  and  deposited  on  the  bot- 
tom of  the  dory,  care  being  had  to  avoid  rough  hand- 
ling lest  the  animals  be  yet  further  excited. 

Then  the  two  Downs  boys  pulled  shoreward,  being 
speedily  lost  to  view  in  the  gloom,  and  Paul  set  about 
covering  the  motor  to  protect  it  from  the  salt  air  as  well 
as  the  rain,  but  pausing  every  few  seconds  to  stare  into 
the  blackness  seaward  as  if  expecting  to  hear  or  see  the 
man  whom  he  was  beginning  to  fear  without  any  due 
cause  therefor. 

"I  am  a  fool,"  he  muttered  to  himself  when  the  task 
was  completed  and  he  stood  for  at  least  the  tenth  time 
gazing  into  the  gloom.  "I  am  a  fool!"  Then  he 
started  suddenly,  throwing  up  one  arm  as  if  to  ward  off 
a  blow,  for  at  that  instant  a  heavy  thump  against  the 
side  of  the  Hampton  boat  was  felt,  and  just  for  an  in- 


48 

stant  he  failed  to  realize  that  it  betokened  the  return  of 
Sam  with  the  dory. 

"Wa'al,  we  left  the  boxes  on  the  beach  where  father 
an'  the  steers  can  get  at  'em,  an'  now  let's  set  a  couple 
more  ashore.  I  forgot  to  tell  Ernest  he  must  bring 
some  axes,  so's  we  can  open  the  cages;  but  I  reckon 
he'll  have  sense  enough  to  remember  it." 

A  second  cargo  was  made  ready,  and  this  time  Paul 
took  passage  in  the  light  craft  that  he  might  assist  in 
the  unloading.  The  third  trip  was  soon  made,  and  the 
last  two  of  the  six  animals  were  lodged  safely  on  Bar- 
ren island.  It  only  remained  to  set  them  at  liberty  as 
Mr.  Simpson  had  commanded,  and  then  would  begin 
the  watch  against  intruders,  which  must  be  continued 
for  many  and  many  a  weary  day  and  night,  until  the 
visitors  from  Russia  had  become  accustomed  to  their 
new  home. 

The  creaking  of  wheels,  or  axles  that  were  strangers 
to  oil,  was  heard  very  shortly  after  Paul  and  Sam  had 
finished  their  portion  of  the  work,  and  then  came  the 
cheery  hail  of  Mr.  Downs  even  before  his  slowly  mov- 
ing steeds  could  be  distinguished  in  the  darkness. 

"Well,  Paul,  got  back  safe  an'  sound,  have  you, 
bringin'  the  foxes  along,  too?  Wa'al,  I  don't  know 
'bout  this  'ere  scheme  of  goin'  into  farmin'  for  pelts,  an' 
I  kind'er  mistrusted  that  we'd  never  see  these  'ere  ani- 
miles.  It  seemed  to  me  all  of  a  piece  with  that  'ere  con- 
traption of  yours  over  at  Swallow-Tailed  cove — more 
fuss  than  fact.  Howsomever,  when  we  can  get  that 
'ere  lot  of  stuff  to  talkin'  with  them  as  are  in  Seaview, 
I'll  believe  fox  farmin'  is  a  payin*  trade." 


PAUL    HAD   THE   SAT  SFACTION    OF   SEEING    THREE   SMALL   SLEEK 
FORMS    DART    FROM    THCIR    PRISONS 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  49 

It  required  no  little  time,  and  some  considerable  skill, 
for  Mr.  Downs  to  get  his  team  of  steers  straightened 
around  on  the  beach  and  headed  for  the  woods.  Then 
the  cages  were  taken  up  carefully  one  by  one  and  placed 
on  the  bottom  of  the  hay  wagon,  the  farmer  handling 
them  as  one  might  some  dangerous  explosive  which 
the  slightest  concussion  would  set  off,  as  he  muttered 
half  to  himself : 

"I  don't  allow  as  the  usual  run  of  foxes  can  be  very 
dangerous  animiles,  but  these  'ere  Rushian  creeters 
must  be  different  from  what  I've  seen,  an'  if  we  don't 
have  a  tussle  for  our  lives  before  mornin'  it'll  be  God's 
blessin'." 

"They  won't  hurt  you,  Mr.  Downs,  else  father  would 
have  told  us  to  have  a  care;  but  he  is  anxious  that  we 
shall  let  them  all  out  at  the  same  time,  if  possible." 

"I  ain't  so  certain  how  that  can  be  done.  I've  got 
a  couple  of  crowbars  an'  two  axes  here ;  but  with  only 
four  of  us,  it  don't  stand  to  reason  we're  goin'  to  handle 
six  of  these  'ere  cages  at  the  same  minute.  How  about 
settin'  'em  free  three  at  a  time?" 

It  was  evident  to  Paul  that  they  could  do  no  more 
than  that,  and  as  the  slowly  moving  steers  started  up 
the  incline  with  their  light  load,  tugging  and  straining 
at  the  yoke  as  if  heavily  burdened,  the  lad  cast  about  in 
his  mind  as  to  how  even  three  of  the  cages  might  be 
opened  at  the  same  moment,  forgetting  for  the  time 
being  the  threats  made  by  John  Ed  Bingham. 

The  lad  from  Seaview  need  not  have  exerted  himself 
laying  plans,  for  once  they  were  arrived  at  the  edge  of 
the  woods  Mr.  Downs  took  charge  of  the  work  by  or- 


50  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

dering  that  three  of  the  cages  be  placed  on  the  ground, 
and  saying  as  he  seized  the  crowbar  after  this  had 
been  done : 

"I'm  allowin'  that  I'm  good  for  one  of  these  'ere 
contraptions,  even  if  it  is  tied  up  tight  with  sheet  iron. 
Now  if  you  three  boys  can't  manage  the  other  two, 
I'll  get  your  mother  to  come  down  an'  do  the  job 
alone." 

It  was  not  as  simple  a  matter  to  free  the  animals  as 
Mr.  Downs  had  anticipated.  The  cages  were  of  thick 
oaken  boards,  lined  inside  with  sheet  iron,  and  strapped 
at  the  ends  with  bands  of  the  same  material,  which  last 
must  be  wrenched  off  before  any  headway  could  be 
made  toward  removing  as  many  of  the  bars  as  would 
permit  of  the  fox  crawling  through. 

The  task  \vas  performed  finally,  however,  after  much 
grumbling  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Downs  because  "them 
Rushians  had  nailed  the  cages  up  so  strong,"  and  Paul 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  three  small,  sleek  forms 
dart  from  their  prisons,  disappearing  so  quickly  amid 
the  foliage  that  one  might  well  question  whether  he  had 
even  caught  a  glimpse  of  them. 

The  other  three  cages  were  treated  in  the  same  man- 
ner ;  but  the  sixth  fox  was  a  full  minute  behind  his  fel- 
low-prisoners, and  stood,  while  one  might  have 
counted  ten,  as  if  undecided  which  way  to  turn. 

Then,  like  a  shadow,  he  glided  off  very  nearly  in  the 
same  direction  as  that  taken  by  the  others,  and  Farmer 
Downs  said  with  a  deep-drawn  sigh  of  relief,  as  he 
wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  forehead  with  a  not 
overly  clean  shirt-sleeve: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  51 

"I  vow  to  goodness  if  I  ain't  glad  that  'ere  job's  fin- 
ished! I  never  allowed  it  would  take  me  so  long  to 
set  six  measly  foxes  loose!  Talk  about  them  'ere 
heathen  Rushians  not  knowin'  their  noses  from  six  dol- 
lars a  month !  I'd  like  to  see  the  man  that  could  beat 
'em  cagin'  animiles!  I'll  bite  my  ear  if  an  elephant 
couldn't  have  danced  a  hornpipe  on  them  'ere  boxes, 
an'  not  smashed  'em,  an'  all  that  work  for  the  sake  of 
a  fox!" 

"But  the  six  of  'em,  'cordin'  to  what  Paul  says,  are 
worth  more'n  this  whole  island,  father,"  Sam  cried. 
"What  do  you  say  to  payin'  seven  hundred  dollars  for 
two?" 

"Seven —  Did  you  say  seven,  sonny?  Seven  hun- 
dred— dollars — for  two  ?" 

"That's  what  Paul  allows,  an'  there  are  six  of  'em. 
Three  hundred  and  fifty  apiece!  Now  what  do  you 
think  of  silver  fox  farmin'  ?" 

"Wa'al,  I  ain't  goin'  agin  my  own  bread  and  butter, 
an'  that's  jest  what  this  'ere  truck  means  to  us.  But  I 
allow  that  I've  got  the  right  to  say  it's  the  craziest  kind 
of  nonsense." 

"What  about  supper?"  Ernest  interrupted,  under- 
standing by  Paul's  movements  that  he  was  not  well 
pleased  at  such  criticism. 

"I'm  allowin'  it'll  be  waitin'  for  us,  an'  smokin'  hot, 
when  we  get  back  an'  put  up  the  steers.  You  toddle 
right  down  to  the  house,  Paul,  an'  we'll  see  to  what 
chores  have  been  left  over." 

"I  don't  care  for  anything  to  eat,"  the  lad  from  Sea- 
view  replied  nervously,  for  now  that  the  work  of  lib- 


52  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

crating  the  foxes  had  been  accomplished  with  apparent 
success,  his  thoughts  had  gone  back  to  the  man  in  the 
dory.  "I've  got  some  work  to  do  over  at  the  wireless 
station,  and  it  may  be  quite  a  while  before  it's  finished." 

"Come,  come  sonny,  you  mustn't  lose  your  appetite," 
Mr.  Downs  cried  soothingly.  "There's  nothing  like 
six  or  eight  slices  of  fried  pork,  with  as  much  fresh 
fish  as  you  can  heap  on  your  plate,  after  a  hard  day's 
work,  an'  I  reckon  you've  put  in  a  full  tally  since 
morning." 

"I'm  going  over  to  the  station.  You  needn't  wait 
supper  for  me,"  Paul  said  quietly,  and  Sam  asked,  with 
no  intention  of  casting  discredit  upon  the  work,  al- 
though to  Paul's  ears  his  tone  was  one  of  mirth : 

"Coin'  to  tune  up,  eh  ?" 

"That's  what  I  am,  and  before  I  come  back,  if  Ned 
is  waiting  for  me,  I'll  get  word  to  father  of  our  meet- 
ing with  John  Ed  Bingham." 

"So !  You  run  across  the  old  villain,  did  you?  What's 
your  father  got  to  do  with  it?"  and  Mr.  Downs  allowed 
the  steers  to  go  on  at  their  own  sweet  will  while  he 
turned  to  face  Paul. 

"The  man  threatened  a  good  deal  because  we 
wouldn't  give  him  a  tow,  and  it's  just  as  well  father 
should  know  that  he  may  do  a  mischief." 

"Wa'al,  I  declare  if  I  hadn't  rather  give  a  good  bit 
than  to  have  had  you  come  at  cross  ends  with  John 
Ed !"  Mr.  Downs  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  regret.  "Of 
course  I  don't  allow  that  I'm  in  any  ways  afraid  of 
him ;  but  he  ain't  the  kind  of  a  man  I'd  like  to  have 
get  a  grudge  agin  me.  Tell  me  just  how  it  happened? 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  53 

I  should  have  thought  you'd  known  better  than  to 
rough  him  up,  Sam." 

"I  didn't  have  anythin'  to  do  with  it,  father.  Paul, 
he  allowed  that  we  wouldn't  give  him  a  tow,  an'  he 
run  the  whole  business." 

Then  Sam  told  the  story  in  detail,  and  Mr.  Downs 
said  half  to  himself  as  he,  rubbed  his  chin  with  the  brad 
in  the  end  of  the  gourd-stick : 

"Now  I  allow  it's  kind'er  unfortunate,  runnin'  agin 
John  Ed  in  that  way,  though  I  don't  jest  see  how  you 
could  have  done  different.  Your  father  allows  that  no- 
body is  to  land  here,  an'  of  all  men  in  the  world  John 
Ed  would  be  the  worst  to  come  foolin'  'round  where 
them  'ere  seven  hundred  dollar  foxes  are.  I've  agreed 
to  keep  'em  safe  an'  sound ;  but  I  declare  to  goodness  if 
it  don't  seem  that  I  might  fail  in  my  duty  if  John  Ed's 
got  an  eye  out,  an'  it  'pears  he  has,  'cordin'  to  what  he 
said.  Hey,  Ernest,  you  run  after  them  'ere  steers,  or 
nobody  knows  where  they'll  get  to !  I  didn't  allow  that 
we'd  have  to  begin  watchin'  very  soon;  but  it  seems, 
'cordin'  to  what's  happened,  that  we're  bound  to  get  on 
to  our  job  this  very  night,  an'  the  sooner  we  tackle  that 
pork  an'  fish  the  quicker  we'll  be  ready  for  it." 

Then  Mr.  Downs  hurried  on  in  pursuit  of  the  steers, 
Ernest  and  Sam  following  close  at  his  heels,  while  Paul 
set  off  directly  toward  the  wireless  station,  giving  no 
heed  to  the  shouts  of  the  male  members  of  the  Downs 
family  as  they  urged  upon  him  the  necessity  of  "fillin' 
up"  before  "fiddlin'  with  them  'ere  wires." 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  FIRST  MESSAGE 

OF  course  it  was  all  very  foolish,  but  for  the  time 
being  it  seemed  to  Paul  as  if  the  Downs  family  was 
united  against  him  in  favor  of  John  Ed  Bingham,  and, 
as  he  hastened  across  the  island  in  the  direction  of  the 
wireless  station,  that  he  was  much  the  same  as  alone  in 
the  struggle  against  the  smuggler-fisherman. 

"It  looks  as  if  every  member  of  the  Downs  family 
had  decided  some  time  since  that  that  miserable  old 
man  can  do  about  as  he  pleases,  and  I  can't  quite  under- 
stand the  matter.  They  don't  hesitate  to  call  him  a 
scoundrel,  a  smuggler,  and  such  like  pet  names,  yet  are 
apparently  frightened  out  of  their  wits  because  I 
wasn't  willing  to  bring  him  to  this  island  in  direct 
opposition  to  father's  orders.  What  a  fool  I  was, 
not  to  have  asked  Ned  to  stay  at  his  instrument  until 
he  either  heard  from  me,  or  became  satisfied  that  some- 
thing was  wrong  with  the  apparatus!  Now  I  may 
spend  the  entire  night  calling  him,  and  he  in  bed  and 
asleep  all  the  time !" 

His  surroundings  were  not  calculated  to  soothe  the 
lad  who  had  grown  nervous  because  of  what  the  male 
members  of  the  Downs  family  had  said  relative  to  John 
Ed  Bingham.  The  night  was  so  dark  that  he  could  not 
even  see  the  ground  beneath  his  feet ;  but  was  forced  to 
make  his  way  by  the  sense  of  touch,  so  to  speak,  and 
the  warm  air  seemed  stifling.  The  hoarse  roaring  of 

54 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  55 

the  surf  at  the  mouth  of  Swallow-Tailed  cove  sounded 
threatening,  and  the  moaning  of  the  breeze  through 
the  trees  came  to  his  ears  like  a  note  of  warning. 

"This  won't  do,"  he  cried  aloud,  coming  to  a  sudden 
halt.  "I've  got  to  stay  on  the  island  all  summer,  and  if 
I  begin  by  being  scared  nearly  out  of  my  wits  before 
the  first  night  of  duty  has  well  begun,  father's  foxes 
will  come  to  grief.  There  is  no  sense  in  my  getting  so 
shivery  simply  because  a  miserable  old  smuggler 
threatened  to  work  what  harm  he  could.  I  must  brace 
up  if  I  count  on  attending  to  business  properly." 

It  was  as  if  this  one-sided  conversation  with  himself 
had  revived  his  courage,  for  straightway  he  continued 
the  tramp,  walking  with  a  firmer  step,  and  resolutely 
shutting  out  from  his  ears  the  noises  of  the  sea  and  the 
night. 

He  was  startled,  however,  when  he  came  suddenly 
upon  the  work  of  his  own  hands.  The  spars  stood  out 
against  the  lighter  darkness  of  the  sky  much  like  a 
gallows,  and  the  sighing  of  the  wind  among  the  wires 
of  the  antenna  made  most  ghostly  music.  His  hands 
trembled  as  he  opened  the  door  of  the  shanty;  but  he 
had  a  firmer  grip  upon  himself  once  the  wick  of  the 
lantern  was  aflame,  and  he  saw  the  instruments  as  he 
had  left  them  a  few  hours  previous. 

"Now  we'll  see  whether  I  know  anything  about 
wireless  telegraphy,  or  if  it  is  in  my  hands  only  a  toy, 
such  as  the  Downs  family  believe  it  to  be,"  he  said  in 
a  loud  tone,  and  the  sound  oi  his  own  voice  did  much 
toward  dispelling  the  cobwebs  that  fear  had  spun  in  his 
brain. 


56  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

The  first  step  was  to  start  the  motor,  in  order  that 
he  might  be  prepared  in  case  it  so  chanced  that  Ned 
was  at  his  station  striving  to  get  into  communication 
with  Barren  island.  Then,  calling  to  mind  all  he  had 
heard  and  read  regarding  the  tuning  of  two  stations 
to  the  corresponding  wave  lengths,  he  set  about  the 
work,  forgetting,  in  his  eagerness  to  begin  the  real 
work  of  telegraphing,  all  the  fears  which  had  been  ex- 
cited by  the  old  smuggler's  threats. 

Paul  and  Ned  had  discussed  this  matter  of  tuning 
the  two  stations  in  sympathy  with  each  other,  many 
times  while  they  were  installing  the  apparatus,  and 
Paul  knew,  or  believed  he  did,  exactly  what  his  friend 
had  done  immediately  after  arriving  home.  It  had 
also  been  arranged  between  the  two  lads  that  the  "call" 
for  the  island  station  should  be  p-1,  while  that  for  Sea- 
view  was  to  be  n-d. 

In  less  than  half  an  hour  from  the  time  of  entering 
the  shanty  Paul  was  ready  to  make  the  first  trial  of  his 
apparatus,  and  he  began  making  the  letters  n-d  with 
the  key,  only  to  start  back  with  a  cry  of  dismay,  for  a 
torrent  of  sparks  followed  the  first  movement. 

"Now  what  is  wrong?"  he  exclaimed,  and  for  an  in- 
stant he  was  tempted  to  abandon  the  effort,  believing 
that  his  knowledge  of  wireless  telegraphy  was  too 
slight  to  permit  of  running  a  station.  Then  he  shut 
his  teeth  hard,  and  went  over  in  mind  all  that  he  had 
read  regarding  this  disagreeable  and  erratic  crackling. 

An  instant  later  he  was  at  work  upon  the  coherer, 
and  when  next  the  key  was  raised  he  felt  confident  he 
was  sending  out  wave-sounds  in  the  proper  order. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  57 

"There's  no  use  for  a  fellow  to  give  in  beaten  until 
he  has  tried  every  remedy  at  hand,"  he  said  in  a  tone 
of  satisfaction,  and  after  repeating  the  call  eight  or 
nine  times,  he  switched  off  the  sending  apparatus  to 
that  of  the  receiving,  in  order  to  learn  if  his  signal  had 
been  heard. 

Counting  ten  slowly,  and  getting  no  reply  in  that 
time,  he  switched  the  apparatus  back  again,  and  re- 
doubled the  number  of  calls  before  waiting  for  a  reply. 

This  manoeuver  was  repeated  again  and  again  until 
a  full  half  hour  had  been  spent,  and  Paul  was  in  de- 
spair. There  seemed  to  be  no  question  but  that  Ned 
had  gone  to  bed  at  the  regular  hour,  instead  of  waiting 
to  get  some  word  from  his  friend,  and  the  lad  said 
bitterly : 

"It  seems  as  if  he  might  have  waited  a  little  while 
on  this  first  night,  more  particularly  since  he  must 
know  that  father  is  eager  to  learn  if  the  foxes  were  set 
loose  without  any  mishap.  But  what's  the  sense  in  giv- 
ing up?  I  may  as  well  spend  the  time  here  calling1 
n-d,  as  to  go  over  to  the  farm-house,  where  I  wouldn't 
be  able  to  get  any  sleep,  for  my  eyes  have  been  propped 
wide  open  by  that  scoundrelly  smuggler." 

At  that  instant  the  opening  of  the  shanty  door 
caused  him  to  spring  up  in  what  was  very  nearly 
alarm,  for  he  had  not  been  expecting  a  visitor,  and  as 
he  looked  quickly  around  an  expression  of  annoyance 
came  over  his  face  because  this  late  comer  was  Sam 
Downs. 

"Seein's  how  I'm  bound  to  tramp  'round  the  shore 
cf  this  'ere  island  till  midnight,  when  Ernest  comes  on 


58  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

duty,  I  allowed  it  wouldn't  do  any  great  harm  if  I  vis- 
ited with  you  a  spell." 

"It  will  be  all  right  if  you  don't  neglect  guard 
duty,"  Paul  replied  curtly.  "The  orders  are  to  move 
about  during  night,  on  the  watch  for  mischief-makers, 
and  you  can't  keep  a  very  strict  lookout  if  you  are  in 
this  shanty." 

"I  ain't  countin'  on  stoppin'  more'n  a  shake.  Ma'rm 
wanted  me  to  tell  you  that  she'd  left  your  supper  in 
the  stove  oven,  agin  you  was  hungry  when  you  went 
home.  It  allers  mixes  her  up  pretty  considerable  if 
one  of  us  acts  peckish  at  the  table,  an*  your  stayin' 
away  altogether  kind'er  upset  her." 

"She  mustn't  worry  if  I  fail  to  eat  as  much  as  either 
you  or  Ernest.  I'm  not  doing  hard  work,  and  don't 
stand  in  need  of  a  great  deal  in  the  way  of  food,"  Paul 
replied  as  he  faced  the  telegraph  key  once  more,  hop- 
ing most  fervently  that  his  visitor  would  take  the  hint 
and  get  about  his  guard  duty. 

"I  reckon  you're  kinder  tunin'  the  fiddle  up,  eh?" 

"Yes,  something  of  that  kind." 

"Been  talkin'  with  the  folks  over  to  Seaview?"  Sam 
asked  with  a  hearty  laugh,  as  if  he  had  uttered  the 
choicest  joke. 

"I'm  getting  ready  to  now,"  and  Paul  began  calling 
n-d  once  more;  but  without  any  expectation  of  receiv- 
ing a  reply. 

Sam  stood  near  his  elbow  in  open-mouthed  aston- 
ishment, starting  back  in  fear  as  the  irregular  action 
of  the  coherer  admitted  of  a  stream  of  sparks,  and 
leaping  toward  the  door  of  the  shanty  when,  after  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  59 

receiving  apparatus  had  been  switched  on,  a  crackling 
and  snapping  could  be  heard  in  such  volume  that  the 
tiny  apartment  actually  seemed  to  tremble  under  the 
detonations. 

"Hurrah!  hurrah!"  Paul  shouted  in  glee  as  he  in- 
serted the  vibrating  contacts  in  the  circuit  to  break  up 
the  continuous  current.  "Ned  staid  right  on  duty  like 
a  dear  boy;  but  I  can't  understand  why  he  didn't  an- 
swer me  before." 

"Say,  is  that  the  reg'lar  kind  of  a  noise  this  'ere 
thing  makes  when  you're  sendin'  words  on  nothin'  but 
air?"  Sam  asked  timidly  as  he  stood  half  in  and  half 
out  of  the  door,  ready  to  take  flight  at  the  next  indi- 
cation of  danger. 

"You  can't  tell  what  may  happen  when  the  current 
comes  with  too  great  force,"  Paul  replied  curtly.  "The 
safest  place  at  such  a  time  as  this  is  outside,  where  you 
can  keep  watch  of  the  shore." 

"I  reckon  it  won't  do  any  great  harm  if  I  look  at 
you  a  spell  longer,"  the  island  lad  said  with  a  grin. 
"I  allow  it'll  be  possible  for  me  to  stand  it  if  you  can. 
Wind  her  up  once  more,  an'  let's  have  another  Fourth- 
of-July  racket." 

Paul  no  longer  gave  heed  to  his  unwelcome  vis- 
itor. The  dots  and  dashes  were  coming  steadily  now, 
and  with  a  sensation  of  deepest  relief  he  read  in  the 
characters  of  the  Morse  alphabet : 

"Your  father  has  been  waiting  here  nearly  an  hour, 
to  hear  how  you  got  on  with  the  foxes." 

"We  set  them  free  without  any  mishap.  One  was 
left  behind  by  its  mates  for  a  few  seconds ;  but  he  soon 


6o 

scuttled  away  in  the  same  direction  they  had  taken. 
Ask  father  if  he  ever  heard  of  a  smuggler  or  a  fisher- 
man named  John  Ed  Bingham?"  Paul  telegraphed, 
convinced  by  this  time  that,  save  in  the  case  of  some 
accident  that  had  not  been  foreseen,  communication 
was  finally  established  with  Seaview,  and  mentally  pat- 
ting himself  on  the  head  because  of  having  been  so 
successful  in  the  work  at  which  he  was  only  an 
amateur. 

Then  came  the  reply,  Sam  gradually  approaching 
nearer  the  instruments  until  he  stood  directly  behind 
the  young  operator : 

"I  know  him  as  a  man  wholly  without  principle. 
Has  he  heard  anything  about  the  foxes  ?" 

Paul  had  written  the  message  out  letter  by  letter  as 
he  received  it,  and  Sam,  who  could  not  fail  of  reading 
the  words,  cried  in  a  tone  of  astonishment: 

"By  the  jumpin'  Crickey!  That  thing  does  really 
work  jest  as  you  said  it  would,  an'  who'd  ever  believed 
it?  Who  sent  them  'ere  words?"  and  he  pointed  at 
the  writing  on  the  paper  in  front  of  Paul. 

"My  father.    He  is  speaking  of  John  Ed  Bingham." 

"Wa'al,  I  reckon  he's  got  the  old  villain  down 
fine.  He  must  have  run  afoul  of  him,  some  time  or 
another." 

Paul  gave  no  heed  to  this  last  remark.  He  was  bus- 
ily engaged  in  sending  a  brief  account  of  what  had 
occurred  during  the  passage  from  Seaview,  and  when 
the  story  was  at  an  end  Ned  clicked  off  the  following 
order  from  Mr.  Simpson: 

"Tell  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  to  keep  their  eyes 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  61 

open  wide.  Bingham  is  not  to  be  allowed  to  land  on 
the  island  under  any  circumstances,  and  I  shall  hold 
them  strictly  accountable  in  case  he  succeeds  in  so  do- 
ing. There  is  no  question  but  that  he  will  make  the 
attempt,  for  it  is  safe  to  say  he  knows  the  value  of  sil- 
ver foxes.  You  are  to  hold  all  hands  well  to  their 
work,  and  see  to  it  that  at  least  two  are  on  duty  dur- 
ing all  the  hours  of  the  night." 

"Have  you  read  that?"  Paul  asked  as  he  looked  up 
at  Sam,  and  the  latter  replied  with  a  grin : 

"That's  what  I  was  doin'.  Kinder  looks  as  if  your 
father  knew  John  Ed  mighty  well,  eh?" 

"Well,  having  read  it,  why  do  you  stay  here  in  the 
shanty?"  Paul  asked  sharply. 

"What's  your  pucker  in  gettin'  rid  of  me?  I  ain't 
troublin'  you  any,  am  I?" 

"But  father  says  two  of  you  are  to  remain  on  duty 
throughout  the  night,  and  you're  loafing  here  when 
that  smuggler  may  be  landing  at  this  very  moment. 
There's  nothing  to  prevent  him  from  doing  as  he 
chooses  while  you  are  off  guard." 

"Wa'al,  say,  you're  gettin'  mightily  worked  up  over 
John  Ed,  ain't  yer  ?  An'  you  actin'  bold  as  a  lion  when 
he  wanted  a  tow.  What's  turned  you  'round  so  sud- 
den?" 

"Can't  you  see  what  has  turned  me?"  Paul  cried 
angrily.  "There  is  a  message  from  your  employer, 
insisting  that  you  do  your  full  duty,  and  yet  you  stand 
here  talking  nonsense.  Wait  until  morning,  if  you 
have  anything  to  say  to  me,  but  now  go  at  once  to 
'rouse  your  brother.  Take  this  written  message  with 


62  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

you,  that  he  and  your  father  may  see  what  is  expected 
of  them." 

"How'll  they  know  whether  your  father  sent  these 
words  or  not?"  and  Sam  grinned  in  a  manner  that  was 
particularly  exasperating  to  Paul.  "You  might  have 
cooked  it  up  for  the  sake  of  makin'  us  think  that  this 
'ere  contraption  could  do  sich  business." 

"It  will  be  safe  for  you  to  believe  that  I'm  telling 
the  truth,  for  if  two  of  you  are  not  on  duty  within  fif- 
teen minutes,  and  doing  your  best  at  watching  the 
shore,  I  shall  send  such  a  message  to  Seaview  as  will 
cause  my  father  to  come  here  before  noon  to-morrow." 

Paul  spoke  with  such  a  tone  of  authority  that  Sam 
shuffled  away  as  rapidly  as  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
move,  saying  sufficiently  loud  to  be  heard  as  he  disap- 
peared in  the  darkness : 

"Some  folks  are  mighty  fussy  over  a  lot  of  measly 
foxes.  I'd  like  to  know  how  two  of  us,  or  all  hands, 
countin'  in  ma'rm,  for  that  matter,  could  keep  John 
Ed  from  landin'  if  so  be  he  took  it  inter  his  head  that 
Barren  island  was  his  port?" 

"Your  father  agreed  that  it  could  be  done,  and  my 
father  will  hold  him  to  the  promise,  or  there'll  be  an- 
other set  of  keepers  here  in  short  order,"  Paul  shouted, 
and  then  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  apparatus  once 
more,  for  the  call  p-1  was  sounding  rapidly,  as  if  Ned 
feared  something  had  gone  wrong. 

"Where  have  you  been?"  Ned  asked  when  Paul 
gave  the  signal  that  he  was  ready  to  receive  a  message. 

"One  of  the  Downs  boys,  who  is  supposed  to  be  on 
guard  until  midnight,  has  been  loafing  in  the  shanty; 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  63 

and  it  required  considerable  time  and  many  words  to 
make  him  return  to  duty,"  Paul  replied  by  use  of  the 
key,  and  immediately  came  an  additional  order  from 
his  father: 

"Make  certain  they  keep  a  sharp  lookout.  Take  a 
hand  in  the  work  yourself  to-night,  and  if  you  are  con- 
vinced that  they  are  not  carrying  out  my  instructions, 
send  word  early  to-morrow,"  and  Ned  added  on  his 
own  account,  "I'm  sleepy  enough  to  go  to  bed  now; 
you'd  better  do  the  same.  Will  be  ready  for  you  be- 
tween seven  and  eight  in  the  morning." 

"I  can't  go  to  bed,  for  I'm  certain  the  Downs  fam- 
ily are  not  attending  to  duty.  Good-night." 

"Good-night,"  came  in  reply,  and  Paul  shut  off  the 
motor,  after  which  he  disconnected  the  instruments, 
shut  the  trunk  in  which  was  the  delicate  mechanism, 
locking  it  securely  as  a  precaution  against  mischief  on 
the  part  of  any  evil-disposed  person  who  might  suc- 
ceed in  effecting  a  landing. 

There  was  no  longer  any  personal  fear  of  John  Ed 
Bingham  in  the  lad's  mind,  now  that  he  had  had  com- 
munication with  his  father.  He  still  believed  the  old 
smuggler  would  do  harm  to  the  foxes  if  it  was  within 
his  power  and  any  money  was  to  be  made  by  so  do- 
ing; but  that  sense  of  undefinable  fear  had  gone,  and 
once  more  was  he  alert  and  quick-witted,  all  the  cob- 
webs having  been  swept  away  from  his  brain. 

When  everything  was  in  shape  to  be  left  for  the 
night  Paul  went  out  into,  the  darkness,  leaving  the 
lantern  behind  to  the  end  that  he  might  move  about 
unseen,  and,  going  well  down  on  the  rocky  shore, 


64  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

walked  softly  along,  straining  his  eyes  into  the  gloom, 
or  listening  for  that  sound  which  might  tell  of  in- 
truders. 

Not  until  he  had  come  to  the  cove  in  which  the 
Hampton  boat  was  moored,  did  he  hear  anything  of 
those  who  were  supposed  to  be  keeping  sharp  watch, 
and  then  the  sound  of  voices  in  the  distance  told  that 
the  Downs  boys,  having  neglected  their  duties  during 
this  long  interval,  were  approaching. 

"What's  the  sense  of  two  walkin'  'round  all  night?" 
Ernest  was  saying  in  a  petulant  tone.  "One  is  as  good 
as  half  a  dozen,  'cause  if  John  Ed  reckons  on  landin' 
here  he  can't  be  stopped." 

"The  trouble  of  it  is  Paul  will  send  word  to  his 
father  that  we  ain't  carryin'  out  the  bargain  'cordin'  tq 
his  fool  idees,  an'  we  may  lose  the  job,"  Sam  replied, 
and  his  brother  said  in  a  tone  of  conviction : 

"You'll  never  make  me  believe  that  he  can  send  word 
from  here  to  Seaview  on  air.  He's  been  stuffin'  you, 
an'  I'll  bet  my  head  the  last  word  he  heard  from  his 
father  was  when  we  put  out  from  the  dock  with  the 
foxes  aboard." 

"Anyhow,  we've  got  to  keep  walkin',  I  reckon,  if 
we  count  on  earnin'  wages." 

"What's  to  hinder  our  crawlin'  among  the  bushes 
up  by  the  spring,  an'  havin'  a  snooze?  He'll  never 
know  whether  we've  been  takin'  it  easy  or  not,  an'  it's 
all  nonsense  for  us  to  wear  our  lives  out  on  sich  a  fool 
job  as  this." 

Paul  understood  full  well  that  now  was  the  time 
when  these  lads  must  be  made  to  understand  that  his 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  65 

father's  orders  were  to  be  obeyed  to  the  letter,  other- 
wise Silver  Fox  Farm  would  come  to  an  untimely 
end.  He  would  have  preferred  that  some  other  should 
recall  them  to  their  duty;  but  it  was  so  firmly  im- 
pressed on  his  mind  that  the  old  smuggler  would  at- 
tempt to  make  a  landing  before  daylight,  that  he  did 
not  dare  to  delay,  therefore  called  sharply  as  he  ad- 
vanced rapidly  in  the  direction  of  the  idlers: 

"The  reason  why  you  can't  crawl  in  among  the 
bushes  near  the  spring  is  because  father  gave  positive 
orders  that  we  were  not  to  go  among  the  foliage,  save 
once  each  day  for  the  purpose  of  leaving  food,  and  you 
may  count  it  'as  certain  that  I  shall  know  whether  you 
attend  to  the  duties  of  guarding  this  island,  or  deceive 
the  man  who  pays  you  good  wages." 

"So  you've  been  listening  eh?"  Ernest  demanded 
in  an  angry  tone. 

"Any  one  half  a  mile  at  sea  might  have  heard  what 
you  said,  and  if  that  smuggler  of  yours  is  really  try- 
ing to  work  mischief  to  the  foxes,  he'd  have  had  a 
good  chance  to  slip  past  you." 

"Wa'al,  what  business  is  it  of  yours  whether  we 
moon  'round  this  island,  or  take  it  kinder  comfort- 
able?" Ernest  cried  aggressively.  "You  ain't  payin* 
us  our  wages." 

"But  I'm  here  to  see  that  you  earn  them,"  Paul  re- 
plied firmly,  but  in  a  friendly  tone.  "See  here,  boys, 
my  father  is  spending  a  large  amount  of  money  in  this 
scheme  of  raising  silver  foxes,  and  it  is  easy  for  you  to 
turn  the  whole  thing  into  disaster  by  neglecting  to 
carry  out  his  orders.  I  don't  want  to  have  any  trouble 


66  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

with  you,  or  seem  to  act  the  part  of  fault-finder;  but 
I  have  had  orders  to  see  that  a  strict  watch  is  kept,  as 
your  father  agreed  should  be  done,  and  I'm  going  to 
obey  them  to  the  letter.  It  would  have  been  possible 
for  me  to  send  word  that  Sam  was  loafing  in  the 
shanty  instead  of  patroling  the  shore ;  but  I  didn't  want 
to  make  a  row,  so  held  my  peace,  determined  to  take 
part  in  guard  duty  until  morning." 

"An'  you're  still  tryin'  to  stuff  it  down  our  throats 
that  you  can  talk  with  your  father  in  Seaview  over  that 
lot  of  truck  you've  got  up  at  Swallow-Tailed  cove?" 
Ernest  cried  angrily. 

"If  you  need  positive  proof,  I'll  telegraph  for  him  to 
come  here  to-morrow,  repeating  all  I  have  heard  you 
say  about  sleeping  instead  of  watching,  and  if  he  isn't 
here  before  sunset  the  Hampton  boat  shall  be  yours. 
Do  you  want  to  try  the  experiment?" 

"I'll  never  believe  you  can  send  words  on  nothin' 
but  air,"  Ernest  said  doggedly. 

"Then  you  shall  have  all  the  proof  that  is  needed 
before  to-morrow  night,  and  when  my  father  repeats 
what  you  have  said  about  crawling  among  the  bushes 
near  the  spring,  I  reckon  you'll  believe  there  is  more 
in  wireless  telegraphy  than  you  fancied." 

"There  ain't  any  need  to  go  so  far  as  that,"  Sam 
replied  quickly,  and  by  the  tone  of  his  voice  one  could 
readily  understand  that  he  was  more  than  a  trifle 
afraid  Paul  might  be  able  to  do  as  he  announced.  "We 
won't  allow  that  you  can  send  a  lot  of  words  on 
nothin'  but  air ;  but  it  don't  stand  to  reason  we  want'er 
take  the  chances  of  losin'  this  job." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  67 

"Then  do  as  you  have  agreed  with  my  father. 
Strive  earnestly  to  prevent  any  one  from  coming 
ashore  here,  and  I'll  hold  my  tongue.  You  can't  af- 
ford to  have  this  business  fail,  because  it  means  good 
wages  for  all  your  family  during  many  years,  and, 
since  you  perform  no  other  work  than  that  of  watch- 
ing, it  can't  be  so  hard  that  you'd  be  willing  to  prove 
false  to  your  promises.  I'll  do  my  share,  and  between 
the  three  of  us,  with  your  father  to  stand  watch  dur- 
ing the  daytime  when  we  are  sleeping,  it  can't  be  so 
very  hard." 

"We'll  watch  all  right,"  Ernest  said  after  a  brief 
pause,  "an'  see  to  it  that  no  one  gets  ashore,  except  it 
may  be  John  Ed,  an'  I  don't  allow  we  can  cut  much 
ice  when  it  comes  to  buckin'  agin  him." 

"Why  not?  In  what  way  is  he  different  from  any 
other  man?" 

"Wa'al,  that's  a  question  I  can't  answer  exactly; 
but  he  is  different,  'cause  he  contrives  to  do  pretty 
much  as  he  allows,  an'  it  don't  seem  as  if  anybody 
could  get  the  best  of  him." 

"Of  course  you  can't  if  you  crawl  away  among  the 
bushes  to  sleep  at  the  very  time  when  you  have  every 
reason  to  believe  he  is  near  at  hand,"  Paul  cried  ear- 
nestly. "I  believe  he  is  close  by  even  now,  and  may 
be  hearing  what  we  say,  therefore  it  stands  us  in  hand 
to  keep  our  eyes  open  wide." 

"What  more  can  we  do  than  walk  back  an'  forth  on 
the  shore?"  Ernest  asked  sulkily,  and  Paul  replied 
sharply : 

"Keep  perfectly  quiet  so  that  he  can't  have  any  idea 


68  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

as  to  where  you  are,  and  move  to  and  fro  so  swiftly 
that  he  won't  get  a  chance  to  slip  past  you." 

"But  s'pose  we  come  across  him?  What's  to  be 
done  then?"  Sam  asked. 

"Didn't  your  father  tell  you  what  to  do?" 

"He  said  we  was  to  stop  anybody  from  comin' 
ashore ;  but  that  was  before  he  knew  John  Ed  was  goin' 
to  take  a  hand  in  the  muss." 

"Do  you  fancy  he  allows  that  John  Ed  can  do  just 
as  he  pleases?"  Paul  asked  sternly. 

"I  don't  know  what  he  allows;  but  it's  a  fact  that 
the  old  villain  carries  his  point  whenever  he  tries,  an' 
since  you  wouldn't  give  him  a  tow  I  reckon  he'll  try 
mighty  hard,"  Sam  said,  still  giving  evidence  of  being 
in  the  sulks. 

"Look  here,  boys,"  and  Paul  did  his  best  to  appear 
friendly  despite  all  the  disagreeable  things  which  had 
been  said,  "we  are  bound  to  keep  Bingham  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  I'll  do  my  share  to-night.  If  you  are  so 
certain  that  he  can't  be  held  in  check,  father  shall  come 
over  to-morrow  and  bring  with  him  those  who  are 
not  afraid  of  the  smuggler.  Now  instead  of  standing 
here  talking  for  the  benefit,  perhaps,  of  the  very  man 
we  are  on  guard  against,  suppose  we  separate  with  the 
idea  that  each  of  us  is  personally  responsible  in  the 
matter  of  his  getting  ashore.  We  will  work  indepen- 
dently of  each  other,  meeting  here  from  time  to  time, 
and  do  our  very  best  until  sunrise.  Is  it  a  bargain?" 

"What'll  we  do  if  we  come  across  John  Ed  on  the 
island?"  Sam  asked  with  the  air  of  one  who  puts  A 
question  which  cannot  well  be  answered. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  69 

"Hold  him,  and  yell  for  me.  I'm  not  afraid  of  one 
man,  and  if  I  can't  get  the  best  of  him  single-handed, 
I'll  guarantee  that  he  don't  do  any  harm  to  the  foxes." 

The  two  Downs  boys  moved  away  as  if  agreeing  to 
the  proposition  made  by  Paul,  and  when  they  were  lost 
to  view  in  the  darkness  the  lad  from  Seaview  said  to 
himself : 

"That  old  smuggler  knows  full  well  that  the  people 
here  are  afraid  of  him,  and  it  is  more  than  likely,  in 
case  he  really  does  come,  that  he'll  be  bold  enough  to 
land  at  the  cove  as  if  believing  himself  a  welcome  visi- 
tor. Therefore  I'll  put  in  the  most  of  my  guard  duty 
there,  and  try  to  decide  what  I  ought  to  do  in  the  way 
of  letting  father  know  what  I  have  heard  this 
night." 

Then  Paul  stole  softly  toward  the  cove,  with  suffi- 
cient of  a  mental  burden  for  a  grown  man  of  long  ex- 
perience. It  was  evident  to  him  that  the  Downs  boys 
could  not  be  depended  upon  to  guard  the  island  as 
Mr.  Simpson  believed  necessary,  and  yet  at  the  same 
time  it  was  a  question  whether  he  would  be  warranted 
in  saying  that  which  would  cause  his  father  to  make  a 
complete  change  of  plans. 

The  lad  understood  full  well  that  if  his  father  was 
convinced  the  island  boys  might  neglect  to  do  their  full 
duty,  he  would  not  hesitate  to  replace  them  with  more 
reliable  employees.  Thus  would  be  raised  up  at  least 
three  enemies  to  the  silver  fox  scheme,  and  such  ene- 
mies as  might  be  able  to  work  very  much  harm  owing 
to  their  knowledge  of  the  island  and  all  its  coves  and 
harbors. 


70  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"I'll  have  a  talk  with  Mr.  Downs  the  first  thing  in 
the  morning,"  Paul  said  to  himself  after  studying  long 
and  earnestly  on  the  subject  as  he  skirted  the  shore  of 
the  cove,  "and  if  he  claims  John  Ed  is  such  a  wonder- 
ful man  that  he  can  make  a  landing  no  matter  how 
many  are  on  the  lookout,  then  I'm  warranted  in  tell- 
ing father  all  that  has  happened  this  night." 

Now  it  is  barely  possible  that  Paul  was  "more 
frightened  than  hurt,"  as  the  old  adage  has  it,  for  when 
morning  came  no  sign  could  be  seen  of  the  smuggler. 
At  intervals  during  the  night  the  three  lads  had  met, 
thus  showing  that  all  were  at  least  awake  and  moving 
around;  but  no  one  had  seen  or  heard  anything  of  a 
suspicious  nature,  and  Sam  said  sleepily  when  Paul 
announced  that  there  was  no  good  reason  why  they 
should  not  go  to  breakfast: 

"All  that  talk  of  yours  was  wasted,  'cause  John  Ed 
didn't  come  'round,  an'  we'd  been  jest  as  well  off  if 
we'd  had  a  snooze." 

"The  fact  that  perhaps  no  one  landed  here  during 
the  night  doesn't  prove  that  there  is  no  need  of  keep- 
ing a  strict  watch,"  Paul  replied  stoutly.  "What 
troubles  me  most,  and  I  am  certain  father  will  look  at 
it  in  the  same  light,  is  that  you  believe  the  smuggler 
can  do  just  as  he  pleases,  therefore  there's  no  use  in 
trying  to  guard  against  him " 

Paul  was  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  Mr. 
Downs,  who  cried  heartily  as  he  came  in  sight  of  the 
boys: 

"Wa'al,  how  about  it?    Seen  or  heard  anythin'?" 

"Not  a  hooter,  an'  we've  been  makin'  fools  of  our- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  71 

selves  walkin'  'round  this  bloomin'  island  all  night 
when  we  might'er  been  in  bed." 

"We  'greed  with  Mr.  Simpson  that  we'd  keep  our 
eyes  open  from  sunset  to  sunrise,  an'  seein's  we're  paid 
for  it,  there's  nothin'  else  to  be  done,"  the  old  man  re- 
plied, and  Paul  would  have  been  more  relieved  in 
mind  had  he  laid  greater  emphasis  on  the  fact  that 
they  also  promised  to  prevent  any  one  from  coming 
ashore. 

"I  reckon  mother  much  the  same  as  had  a  fit  when 
she  found  that  you  didn't  come  to  get  any  of  the  sup- 
per she  was  keepin'  hot  for  yer,"  the  old  man  con- 
tinued as  he  turned  to  face  Paul.  "There's  no  use  in 
your  takin'  hold  so  strong  at  the  jump,  'cause  it  don't 
stand  to  reason  any  body  will  do  harm  to  the  foxes 
till  they've  had  a  chance  to  breed,  when  they  won't  be 
so  terrible  wild." 

"Father  believes  we  should  be  on  guard  every  mo- 
ment, and  I've  been  trying  to  do  what  I  know  he  wants 
done." 

"That's  all  right,  sonny;  but  at  the  same  time  he 
don't  allow  that  you're  goin'  to  kill  yourself,  'cause 
there'll  be  foxes  an'  to  spare  long  after  you  an'  me  are 
in  our  graves.  The  boys  tell  me  that  you  got  your  con- 
traption to  workin',  an'  believe  you  knew  what  the 
folks  at  Seaview  were  sayin'." 

"I  knew  what  one  person  was  saying,"  Paul  replied 
without  any  very  great  show  of  spirit.  Mr.  Downs  had 
shown,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  a  willingness  to  neglect 
the  work  such  as  his  sons  had  displayed,  and  there  was 
no  longer  any  question  in  his  mind  but  that  duty  to 


72  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

his  father  demanded  that  he  make  all  the  facts  known 
without  delay. 

"I'll  tell  him  the  substance  of  what  has  been  said  by 
the  old  man  as  well  as  the  boys,  and  it  shall  be  for  him 
to  decide  what  ought  to  be  done,"  he  said  to  himself, 
and  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  he 
added  aloud,  "I  believe  it  will  be  better  if  father  comes 
over  to-day  to  see  for  himself  how  the  work  has  been 
begun,  and  after  breakfast  I'll  tell  him  so." 

"Then  you've  really  got  the  idee  that  there's  no 
trouble  'bout  sendin'  word  to  Seaview  with  that  lot  of 
truck  up  yonder?"  and  Mr.  Downs  looked  pityingly 
at  him,  as  the  lad  fancied. 

Paul's  heart  was  heavy  with  anxiety,  and  he  no 
longer  had  the  spirit  to  make  reply,  save  as  he  said  in 
a  low  tone: 

"That's  what  I  believe,  and  I  shall  still  have  a  very 
good  idea  that  it  is  a  fact,  even  after  you  have  decided 
that  wireless  telegraphy  is  a  delusion  and  a  snare." 


CHAPTER  V 

TELLTALE   SIGNS 

IT  was  as  if  Mrs.  Downs  realized  that  there  was 
some  disturbing  element  in  the  household,  for  she 
seemingly  made  every  effort  to  arouse  Paul  from  the 
thoughtful  mood  into  which  he  had  fallen  after  hav- 
ing learned  that  Mr.  Downs  was  no  more  inclined  to 
carry  out  all  his  promises  than  were  the  boys. 

The  good  woman  reproached  the  lad  in  a  motherly 
tone  because  of  having  neglected  to  eat  his  supper,  and 
cried  out  against  his  taking  part  in  the  guard  duty 
when  he  was,  as  she  said,  not  accustomed  to  such 
rough  work. 

"I  have  cooked  these  'ere  flapjacks  especially  for 
you,  because  I'm  thinkin'  you're  sort  of  a  mother's  boy, 
an'  need  coddlin',"  she  said,  laying  her  hand  tenderly 
on  the  lad's  shoulder.  "Sam  an'  Ernest  haven't  had 
a  chance  to  be  fmnicky  about  what  they  eat,  so  long's 
there's  enough;  but  it  will  be  different  with  you,  I 
reckon.  I  noticed  you  didn't  take  half  as  much  bacon 
as  I'd  laid  out  for  you  yesterday  noon.  I  tell  my  men- 
folks  that  as  long  as  they  eat  I  ain't  worried  about 
'em ;  it's  when  they  peck  here  an'  there,  same's  you're 
cloin',  that  I  scurry  'round  to  get  sulphur  an'  molasses 
ready." 

Paul  tried  really  hard  to  convince  Mrs.  Downs  that 
he  was  neither  ill  nor  suffering  from  lack  of  food,  and 
in  this  laudable  effort  he  ate  at  least  three  more  griddle 

73 


74  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

cakes  than  he  otherwise  would  have  done,  hoping 
thereby  to  give  her  convincing  proof  that  he  was  in 
no  need  of  anything  in  the  nature  of  sulphur  and 
molasses. 

Strive  as  he  might,  however,  it  was  impossible  to 
throw  off  the  forebodings  which  had  come  upon  him 
when  he  learned  how  little  inclined  the  male  members 
of  the  Downs  family  were  to  live  up  to  both  the  letter 
and  the  spirit  of  the  contract  made  for  the  running  of 
Silver  Fox  Farm. 

He  had  already  decided  that  it  was  in  the  highest 
degree  necessary  his  father  should  visit  Barren  island 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment ;  but  Ned  had  told  him 
the  night  previous  that  he  would  not  be  at  the  Seaview 
station  until  seven  o'clock  that  morning,  and  it  was 
only  a  few  minutes  past  five  when  he  arose  from  the 
breakfast  table,  heedless  alike  of  Mrs.  Downs's  pro- 
tests and  arguments  there  was  no  need  for  him  to 
"tramp  'round  the  island"  doing  guard  duty,  because 
it  was  not  likely  any  one  would  try  to  make  a  landing 
at  that  early  hour. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  Paul  was  not  intending  to  act 
the  part  of  sentinel.  He  did  not  believe  John  Ed  Bing- 
ham  would  attempt,  after  the  threats  he  had  made,  to 
visit  the  island  in  the  daytime,  and  therefore  it  was  the 
same  as  a  fact  in  his  mind  that  there  was  little  neces- 
sity for  playing  the  part  of  lookout  until  another  night 
had  come. 

"When  are  you  goin'  to  make  up  the  sleep  you  lost 
last  night?"  Mrs.  Downs  asked  as  he  stepped  out  of 
the  door,  and  Paul  replied  carelessly : 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  75 

''Oh,  I  can  do  that  almost  any  time." 

"Better  go  to  bed  while  you're  in  the  mood  for  it," 
the  good  woman  insisted.  "You'll  stand  more  chance 
of  goin'  to  sleep  if  you  set  about  it  before  gettin'  so 
wide  awake." 

"I've  got  to  talk  with  father  at  seven  o'clock,  and 
then  if  you'll  lend  me  a  blanket,  I'll  lie  down  in  the 
shanty." 

While  making  this  reply  he  had  hurried  away  from 
the  house  in  order  to  put  an  end  to  the  conversation, 
and  involuntarily  he  turned  his  face  in  the  direction  of 
the  cove,  walking  aimlessly  on  until  arriving  at  the 
water's  edge,  when  he  stood  gazing  at  the  Hampton 
boat,  hardly  seeing  her  because  his  thoughts  were  so 
far  away. 

After  a  few  moments,  however,  the  fact  slowly 
dawned  upon  him  that  the  power  boat  was  not  as  he 
had  left  it,  and  once  this  possibility  suggested  itself  to 
his  mind  he  became  keenly  on  the  alert. 

He  could  see  above  the  rail  one  corner  of  the  motor 
covering.  It  was  of  heavy  vulcanized  cloth,  made  in 
the  form  of  a  box,  and  enveloped  the  entire  machinery. 
Looking  back  upon  the  events  of  the  previous  night, 
he  remembered  distinctly  not  only  having  put  this 
screen  on  carefully,  but  fastening  down  the  corners 
with  loops  set  into  the  cloth  for  that  purpose. 

"Somebody  has  been  on  board  of  her  since  I  left," 
he  said,  speaking  aloud  as  he  ran  swiftly  toward  the 
dory  belonging  to  the  Downs  boys,  which  had  been 
hauled  up  above  high  water  mark. 

It  was  no  slight  task  for  him  to  drag  the  heavy  craft 


76  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

unaided  over  the  sand;  but  so  great  was  his  excite- 
ment, for  now  all  the  forebodings  of  the  night  before 
had  come  upon  him  with  redoubled  force,  that  he 
finally  succeeded,  and  with  feverish  haste  pulled  across 
the  small  cove  to  the  Hampton  boat. 

It  was  not  necessary  he  should  go  on  board  in  order 
to  make  certain  some  one  had  visited  her.  Not  only 
was  the  vulcanized  cover  showing  above  the  rail;  but 
it  had  been  entirely  removed  from  the  motor,  and  two 
wrenches  which  he  knew  beyond  question  had  been 
stowed  in  the  locker,  were  lying  on  the  floor  as  if  hav- 
ing lately  been  used. 

In  a  twinkling  he  was  over  the  rail,  not  forgetting, 
however,  to  bring  the  dory's  painter  with  him,  and  then 
a  cry  of  dismay  burst  from  his  lips. 

The  sparker  of  the  motor  had  been  removed,  and 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Two  nuts  had  been  taken  off, 
and  were  missing  also.  In  fact,  the  motor  had  been 
evidently  hastily,  but  certainly,  put  out  of  commission, 
and  it  must  have  been  done  by  some  person  who  in- 
tended to  visit  the  island  with  evil  intent,  in  order  to 
prevent  pursuit  in  case  of  being  discovered. 

"It's  that  miserable  smuggler!"  Paul  exclaimed, 
looking  here  and  there  along  the  shore  as  if  almost 
expecting  to  see  John  Ed  Bingham  come  out  from 
some  place  of  concealment.  Then  after  a  brief  time 
of  thought  he  added,  "It  doesn't  seem  possible  any  man 
would  do  such  a  thing  simply  because  I  refused  to  give 
him  a  tow,  nor  is  it  reasonable  to  believe  he  could  come 
at  the  foxes  now  while  they  are  so  wild ;  yet  who  else 
has  done  the  mischief  ?" 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  77 

Then  came  the  knowledge  that  whoever  had  dis- 
abled the  boat  must  have  come  into  the  cove  during  the 
night.  Hurriedly  covering  the  motor,  he  rowed 
quickly  to  the  shore,  pulled  the  dory  out  of  the  water 
as  far  as  possible,  threw  her  anchor  on  the  sand,  and 
ran  along  the  beach  looking  for  some  signs  of  the 
visitor. 

The  tide  was  at  its  lowest  mark,  and,  therefore,  six 
hours  must  have  elapsed  since  the  beach  was  covered 
with  water.  If  any  person  had  landed  since  eleven 
o'clock  he  ought  to  see  some  evidence  of  such  fact. 

Walking  slowly  and  scrutinizing  every  foot  of  the 
shimmering  sands,  he  continued  on  along  the  southerly 
side  of  the  cove  until  rounding  the  point,  and  then 
there  were  before  him  signs  sufficiently  plain  to  tell 
beyond  a  peradventure  that  some  man  had  visited  Bar- 
ren island  since  midnight. 

About  half-way  between  high  and  low  water  marks 
was  the  imprint  of  a  dory's  bow  in  the  sand,  with  foot- 
steps leading  up  on  shore  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
and  returning  at  an  angle,  as  if  he  who  made  them  had 
come  directly  from  Farmer  Downs's  house. 

As  a  matter  of  course  there  was  no  real  proof  that 
the  intruder  had  held  communication  with  any  member 
of  Mr.  Downs's  family;  but  it  was  at  least  suspicious 
that  these  footprints  were  on  a  direct  course  from  the 
farm-house. 

"Whoever  landed  came  about  three  hours  ago," 
Paul  said  to  himself  as  he  s,tood  studying  the  trails  left 
so  boldly  on  the  sand.  "The  dory's  bow  must  have 
struck  here  when  the  tide  was  about  half  ebb,  else  the 


78  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

water  would  have  washed  the  imprint  away,  and  that 
was  at  the  time  I  went  around  the  shore  of  Swallow- 
Tailed  cove,  thinking  Sam  and  Ernest,  after  all  that 
had  been  said,  would  keep  sharp  watch  here." 

Paul  started  to  follow  the  line  of  footprints  lead- 
ing up  on  to  the  shore ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  course,  los- 
ing them  immediately  he  was  among  the  loose  sand 
above  high  water  mark,  and  he  was  not  sufficiently 
versed  in  woodcraft  to  be  able  to  follow  them  on  the 
grass.  Therefore  it  was  that  such  story  as  he  evolved 
from  these  telltale  signs  must  be  confined  to  that  nar- 
row space  between  the  limit  of  the  tide  at  its  height, 
and  the  imprint  of  the  dory's  bow. 

Surely  Paul  Simpson  was  confronted  with  a  prob- 
lem which  would  have  perplexed  and  alarmed  a  wiser 
head  than  his.  He  believed  with  good  reason  that 
those  whom  his  father  depended  on  to  guard  the  silver 
foxes  were  wilfully  neglectful  of  duty  despite  all  the 
warnings  he  had  given  them  the  night  before,  and  yet 
what  more  could  he  do  than  already  had  been  done? 

Mr.  Downs,  as  well  as  his  sons,  had  no  faith  in 
Paul's  ability  to  send  a  message  across  the  waters  to 
Seaview,  therefore  believed  that  Mr.  Simpson  could 
not  be  warned  of  the  course  which  they  evidently  in- 
tended to  pursue. 

"It  may  be  that  one  or  the  other  of  them  wrecked 
the  Hampton  boat  so  that  I  couldn't  run  over  and  tell 
father  what  I  know,"  he  said  to  himself,  and  immedi- 
ately afterward  dismissed  such  a  thought  from  his 
mind,  because  it  was  not  reasonable  to  suppose  they 
would  do  that  which  might  so  readily  be  brought  home 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  79 

to  them,  since  it  must  in  time  either  be  admitted  that 
some  one  had  visited  the  island  in  disregard  of  Mr. 
Simpson's  commands,  or  that  they  themselves  had 
done  the  mischief. 

"There's  little  sense  in  my  staying  here  studying 
over  the  matter.  There's  no  wind,  and  the  sea  is  calm ; 
father  can  come  over  in  the  old  power  boat  without 
danger,  and  I  will  tell  him  all  that  has  happened.  It 
is  better  to  let  him  know  I  am  really  frightened,  than 
keep  secret  what  seems  to  me  such  plain  evidence  of 
treachery." 

The  knowledge  that  it  would  be  possible  to  shift  the 
responsibility  which  weighed  so  heavily  upon  him,  to 
his  father's  shoulders,  served  to  cheer  the  lad  some- 
what, and  turning  his  back  upon  the  telltale  signs,  he 
walked  rapidly  toward  the  station,  increasing  his  speed 
as  the  idea  occurred  to  him  that  perhaps  some  mischief 
might  have  been  done  there  during  the  short  time  he 
had  been  in  the  farm-house  eating  breakfast. 

Everything  at  the  wireless  station  was  as  he  had  left 
it,  and  with  a  long-drawn  sigh  of  relief  he  settled  back 
in  the  rude  chair  facing  the  instrument,  to  wait  until 
it  should  be  time  to  open  communication  with  Seaview, 
turning  over  in  his  mind  again  and  again  all  the  dis- 
quieting events  of  the  past  twelve  hours. 

A  few  moments  before  seven  o'clock  he  started  the 
motor,  and  in  the  absence  of  anything  else  with  which 
to  occupy  his  time,  set  about  sending  out  the  call  n-d, 
and  listening  now  and  then  for  the  reply  which  he  did 
not  believe  would  come  immediately. 

His  surprise  was  great,  therefore,  on  hearing  the 


8o 

letters  p-1  when  he  had  switched  on  the  receiving  ap- 
paratus, and  at  once  Ned  began  to  explain,  as  if  think- 
ing an  apology  was  necessary,  why  he  had  come  into 
his  station  so  early. 

"After  what  you  told  me  about  that  smuggler  it 
was  pretty  hard  work  to  fall  asleep.  I  was  awake  be- 
fore daylight,  and  have  been  here  half  an  hour  or  more 
calling  you." 

"And  I  have  been  loafiing  around  waiting  until 
seven  o'clock,"  Paul  clicked  back  in  reply.  "Can  you 
get  father  right  away?" 

"He  is  just  coming  up  the  hill." 

"Write  this  down  for  him:  The  Downs  family  did 
not  believe  it  necessary  to  keep  strict  watch.  I  had 
sharp  words  with  the  boys  last  night  when  they  in- 
sisted there  was  no  need  to  stand  guard.  Mr.  Downs 
seems  to  be  of  much  the  same  mind.  None  of  them 
believe  I  can  send  a  message.  Between  two  and  five 
o'clock  some  person  landed  in  a  dory  just  south  of  the 
cove,  and  went  up  the  beach  as  if  going  to  the 
spring.  Coming  back  the  footprints  led  from  the 
direction  of  the  farm-house.  You  must  come  here  with- 
out delay." 

When  the  last  word  had  been  clicked  off  Paul 
waited  for  the  reply,  feeling  that  more  than  half  his 
burden  had  been  swept  away  now  his  father  knew  the 
exact  condition  of  affairs,  and  he  found  time  to  con- 
gratulate himself  on  the  excellence  of  the  work  which 
he  and  Ned  had  done,  for  the  two  stations  were  in  per- 
fect harmony,  consequently  there  was  no  difficulty  in 
receiving  clearly  any  signal  from  Seaview. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  81 

Then  the  warning  sound  came,  and  Paul  read  by 
the  dots  and  dashes  these  words : 

"Will  start  for  Barren  island  as  soon  as  I  find  the 
man  whom  I  shall  hire  to  assist  you.  Will  be  there 
probably  about  noon." 

"You  can't  get  here  too  soon,"  Paul's  return  mes- 
sage began.  "If  John  Ed  Bingham  should  come  into 
the  cove  the  Downs  Family  would  do  nothing  to  pre- 
vent his  landing.  They  are  afraid  of  him." 

That  his  father  was  trying  to  cheer  him  Paul  under- 
stood when  Ned  sent  with  fairly  good  speed  the  mes- 
sage: 

"There  is  little  danger  any  mischief  will  be  done 
.during  the  daytime.  Will  be  with  you  at  noon." 

When  Paul  had  read  this,  Ned  added  on  his  own 
account : 

"Your  father  has  hurried  away  to  find  Zenas  Gush- 
ing. He  will  hire  him  to  stay  with  you.  I  shall  plug 
at  my  books  mighty  hard  in  the  hope  of  being  with  you 
shortly  for  a  day  or  two.  Will  come  into  the  station 
at  twelve-thirty  this  noon,  and  again  at  six  to-night. 
Good-by." 

"Talk  about  wireless  telegraphy !"  Paul  said  to  him- 
self in  a  tone  of  satisfaction  and  triumph  as  he  shut 
off  the  motor  and  locked  up  the  instruments.  "Father's 
silver  fox  farming  would  be  the  same  as  at  an  end 
within  twenty-four  hours  if  Ned  and  I  hadn't  spent 
our  time  studying  the  transmission  of  wave  sounds. 
I  reckon  Mr.  Downs  will  come  to  understand  that  this 
'contraption'  of  mine  isn't  such  a  piece  of  fool  busi- 
ness as  he  and  his  sons  have  allowed.  Of  course  John 


82  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Ed  Bingham  won't  attempt  to  come  ashore  this  fore- 
noon, and  if  he  should,  wouldn't  dare  to  molest  the 
foxes,  therefore  I  may  as  well  go  over  to  the  house  for 
some  blankets.  Until  things  get  into  better  shape  I 
intend  to  sleep  here,  where  I  can  get  at  the  instrument 
at  any  moment  it  may  be  necessary." 

Paul  was  locking  the  door  of  the  shanty  when  Mr. 
Downs  himself  came  up  from  the  shore  directly  op- 
posite the  station,  and  cried  as  soon  as  he  was  within 
hailing  distance: 

"Been  tunin'  your  riddle  agin  this  mornin'?" 

"I  did  that  last  night,"  Paul  made  reply  cheerily,  for 
his  heart  was  very  light  now  he  knew  that  his  father 
would  speedily  be  with  him.  "It's  working  like  a 
charm." 

"Been  talkin'  with  your  father,  eh  ?" 

"Yes.  He's  coming  over.  Will  be  here  about 
noon." 

"Sho!  Now,  boy!  You  don't  mean  to  tell  me  that 
you  know  he's  comin' — that  you  found  it  out  with  that 
'ere  contraption?" 

"That's  what  I  did,  and  when  he  gets  here  you'll 
be  forced  to  admit  that  there's  something  in  wireless 
telegraphy  after  all,  won't  you?" 

"Yes,  when  he  gets  here,"  Mr.  Downs  replied  with 
a  drawl.  "But  the  proof  of  the  puddin'  is  in  the 
eatin',  and  I  shall  have  to  wait  till  he  flashes  up 
before  agreein'  that  you  have  talked  with  him  this 
mornin'." 

"It  won't  be  long  that  you'll  have  to  wait  for  the 
proof  of  the  pudding,  Mr.  Downs,  so  there's  no  reason 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  83 

why  we  should  argue  the  matter.  Did  you  know  that 
some  one  came  ashore  here  last  night  about  two 
o'clock?" 

"Sho,  now!  What  put  that  idee  into  your  head, 
lad?  There  couldn't  any  one  have  landed  here  with 
all  three  of  you  boys  on  watch,  unless  we'd  knowed 
about  it.  How  did  you  get  sich  a  wrinkle?" 

"Well,  in  the  first  place  the  motor  on  the  Hampton 
boat  has  been  disabled — the  sparker  and  two  nuts  car- 
ried away;  and  that  reminds  me,  I  should  have  told 
father  to  bring  me  over  some  extra  fittings." 

Turning  suddenly,  Paul  unlocked  the  door  of  the 
shanty,  hurriedly  set  the  motor  in  motion,  and  began 
calling  n-d  with  furious  energy. 

Again  and  again  he  listened  for  a  reply,  Mr.  Downs 
standing  by  with  an  expression  of  incredulity  and  curi- 
osity written  on  his  face,  in  much  the  same  attitude  as 
Sam  assumed  the  night  before. 

"It's  no  use,"  Paul  said  mournfully  as  he  shut  off 
the  motor  and  locked  up  the  instruments  again.  "Ned 
gave  me  fair  warning  that  he  was  going,  and  when  he 
comes  back  at  half-past  twelve  it  will  be  too  late  for 
father  to  bring  the  things  over  with  him." 

"She  don't  work,  eh?"  and  Mr.  Downs  appeared 
particularly  well  pleased.  "Ain't  movin'  like  a  charm 
now,  eh?" 

"The  instruments  are  all  right;  but  Ned  isn't  there 
to  receive  the  message.  He'll  be  at  his  station  at 
twelve-thirty  this  noon,  and  I  can  get  him  then." 

"Yes,  I  reckon  you  can,"  and  both  the  tone  and  the 
smile  on  the  old  man's  face  were  well  calculated  to 


84  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

anger  a  lad  of  Paul's  excitable  disposition,  for  it  was 
much  the  same  as  if  he  had  been  accused  of  telling  a 
falsehood.  "Wa'al,  so  long's  she  ain't  workin',  let's 
get  down  to  this  'ere  tale  'bout  some  one's  comin' 
ashore  last  night.  It  seems  to  me,  lad,  your  head  is 
goin'  wrong.  You've  been  thinkin'  so  much  about 
these  'ere  silver  foxes  that  you  can't  get  'em  out  of 
your  mind,  even  after  they're  safe  an'  snug  among  the 
bushes." 

"I  intend  they  shall  stay  there  safe  and  snug,"  Paul 
replied  firmly,  "if  we  can  prevent  such  people  as  John 
Ed  Bingham  from  landing  here." 

"Sho  now,  boy!  Don't  you  trouble  your  head  'bout 
John  Ed.  He's  got  other  fish  to  fry  'stead  of  scurryin' 
'round  this  'ere  island  for  foxes  what  are  wilder'n 
hawks.  Bless  your  heart,  he  couldn't  trouble  'em  if  he 
wanted  to;  an*  besides,  John  Ed  don't  get  far  out  of 
his  way  without  there's  a  dollar  in  it." 

"There  would  be  a  good  many  dollars  in  it  if  he 
could  get  one  of  those  fox  pelts." 

"Well,  there,  perhaps  you're  right.  I  ain't  a-sayin' 
but  that  they're  worth  a  heap  of  money,  though  I  can't 
bring  myself  to  believe  anybody  would  be  fool  enough 
to  pay  sich  a  price  as  your  father  did.  He  can  afford 
to  go  into  these  'ere  schemes,  an'  seein's  he's  bent  on 
'em,  people  as  have  got  foxes  to  sell  are  goin'  to  put 
the  price  on  mighty  thick." 

"What  the  foxes  are  worth  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  matter,  Mr.  Downs,"  Paul  said  hotly.  "If  you  have 
any  doubts  as  to  whether  some  person  came  on  this 
island  after  the  last  high  tide,  suppose  you  walk  down 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  85 

to  the  cove  with  me,  for  there  can  be  found  evidence 
enough  to  convince  even  you." 

"I  don't  know  as  there's  any  reason  why  I  shouldn't, 
lad,  seein's  all  we've  got  to  do  is  to  catch  a  few  pollock 
or  cunners  to  leave  up  by  the  spring  'cordin'  to  orders ; 
but  it  seems  to  me  it  would  be  a  good  deal  wiser  for 
you  to  try  an'  get  some  sleep,  same's  Sam  and  Ernest 
are  doin'." 

"I'll  attend  to  that  part  of  it  after  father  comes.  I 
want  you  to  see  that  despite  the  watch  which  was  kept 
last  night,  some  one  came  ashore,  and  unless  we  go 
before  the  tide  gets  up  the  evidences  of  the  visit  will 
be  washed  away." 

"I'll  do  anythin'  on  airth  to  please  you,  lad,  only  I'm 
beggin'  of  you  not  to  take  this  'ere  business  so  much 
to  heart.  I  know  how  kind  of  excitable  an'  flirty  boys 
are,  an'  allers  feel  like  advisin'  'em  to  keep  cool. 
Things  will  go  on  jest  as  well  if  you  don't  fret,  as  if 
you  wore  your  heart  out." 

"We'll  go  an'  look  at  the  signs,"  Paul  said,  not 
minded  to  continue  such  a  profitless  conversation,  and 
leading  the  way  at  a  pace  which  speedily  caused  Mr. 
Downs  to  call  for  a  halt,  as  he  said : 

"Old  bodies  don't  move  as  spry  as  young  ones, 
an'  what  with  the  rheumatiz  in  my  knee,  an'  a 
crick  in  my  back,  I  ain't  in  shape  to  go  at  any  ten-knot 
gait." 

Despite  his  infirmities,  however,  Mr.  Downs  did 
succeed  in  gaining  the  shore  of  the  island  just  beyond 
the  southerly  point  of  the  cove,  and  Paul  pointed  out 
to  him  the  depression  caused  by  the  dory's  bow,  as  well 


86  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

as  the  footprints  in  the  sand,  asking  sharply  mean- 
while : 

"What  do  you  think  of  that?  Isn't  it  evidence  that 
some  one  came  ashore  here  when  the  tide  was  about 
half  ebb?  That  they  went  off  in  the  direction  of  the 
spring,  and  returned  as  if  coming  directly  from  your 
house?" 

"Well,  now,  lad,  it  does  look  amazin'ly  like  that,  an' 
yet  I'm  bound  to  say  agin  that  it  can't  be,  'cause  there 
was  you,  an'  Sam,  and  Ernest  all  on  watch." 

"I  was  near  Swallow-Tailed  cove  at  two  o'clock  last 
night,  which  must  have  been  about  the  time  when  the 
boat  came  ashore.  Ernest  and  Sam  were  somewhere 
around  here.  We  had  had  hard  words;  they  insisted 
that  it  would  be  as  well  to  go  up  into  the  bushes  near 
the  spring  and  sleep,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  we 
have  orders  not  to  go  there,  and  again  that  father  ex- 
pects they  will  remain  on  duty  during  the  hours  of 
darkness." 

"Now  see  here,  sonny,  let  me  try  to  persuade  you 
not  to  take  this  thing  so  hard.  Your  father  he  says 
to  me,  says  he,  'Daniel,  can  I  trust  you  an'  your  boys 
to  take  care  of  Barren  island  so's  nobody  can  come 
ashore  except  them  as  I  send?'  An'  I  says  to  him, 
says  I,  'Mr.  Simpson,  seein's  how  I've  allers  lived  on 
Barren  island,  an'  seein's  how  you've  the  same  as 
bought  it  under  my  feet,  why  I  can  be  depended  on  to 
do  jest  whatever  you  want.'  An'  that's  a  fact,  lad. 
Now  when  you  go  to  fussin'  an'  snoopin'  'round,  seem' 
signs  in  the  sand  here,  an'  gettin'  fool  notions  in  your 
head  that  Sam  an'  Ernest  reckoned  on  sleepin'  when 


.      AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  87 

they  ought'er  be  awake,  why  you're  only  muddlin' 
things.  We  want  to  get  on  peaceable-like,  an'  do  this 
job  as  easy  as  it  can  be  done,  not  strainin'  ourselves. 
The  foxes  will  live  jest  as  long  if  we  take  a  little  bit  of 
comfort  now  an'  then,  as  if  we  was  cahootin'  'em  up 
an'  down  this  island  with  their  tails  tied  together." 

"To  go  back  to  what  you  can  see  here  in  the  sand, 
Mr.  Downs,"  Paul  interrupted.  "Isn't  it  clear  to  you 
that  some  one  came  ashore  since  high  tide  ?" 

"Wa'al,"  the  old  man  said  as  he  rubbed  his  chin  vig- 
orously, "it  does  have  a  look  that  way,  an'  yet  at  the 
same  time  I  ain't  quite  prepared  to  admit  it,  seein'show 
you  three  boys  were  on  watch.  Now  I'll  tell  you  what 
we'd  best  do.  I'll  kinder  look  inter  this  thing,  takin' 
plenty  of  time  to  consider  all  the  whys  and  wherefores, 
while  you  go  to  the  house  an'  get  some  sleep.  Better 
bottle  up  what  you  can  'twixt  now  an'  when  your 
father  comes,  if  so  be  he  is  comin'." 

Paul  could  understand  very  readily  that  Mr.  Downs 
was  not  disposed  to  discuss  the  real  question  at  issue, 
and,  in  fact,  it  gave  the  lad  but  little  concern,  since  he 
believed  his  father  would  soon  be  on  the  island  to  take 
charge. 

Therefore  it  was  that  he  seemingly  acted  upon  the 
farmer's  suggestion,  by  going  to  the  house  and  asking 
Mrs.  Downs  for  a  couple  of  blankets  to  be  carried  to 
the  shanty,  adding  in  explanation : 

"I  shall  be  obliged  to  spend  a  good  deal  of  my  time 
there,  and  count  on  putting  up  a  bunk  in  order  to  be 
comfortable.  Two  blankets  will  be  enough  for  me  this 
warm  weather." 


88  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

The  good  woman  was  loud  in  her  protestations 
against  his  proposition,  insisting  that  her  beds  were 
"good  an'  sweet,"  and  it  would  be  better  for  him  to 
use  them  than  run  the  risk  of  getting  cold  by  sleeping 
in  such  a  place. 

The  lad  persisted,  however,  and  finally  she  brought 
to  him  not  only  blankets,  but  a  small  straw  mattress, 
evidently  of  home  manufacture. 

"If  you're  bound  to  be  foolish,  my  son,  I'm  bound 
you  shall  be  comfortable,  so  far  as  it's  in  my  power  to 
make  you.  I  know  what  it  is  to  be  a  mother,  an'  won't 
see  another  woman's  son  sleepin'  cold  or  goin'  hungry 
if  I  can  help  myself." 

If  Paul  had  attempted  to  combat  all  her  arguments, 
or  answer  all  the  questions  she  asked  regarding  this 
idea  of  sleeping  in  the  shanty,  the  day  might  have  been 
spent  before  any  definite  conclusion  was  arrived  at; 
but  instead  of  wasting  his  breath  he  gathered  up  the 
blankets  and  the  bed,  hurrying  off  in  the  direction  of 
Swallow-Tailed  cove  while  Mrs.  Downs  stood  in  the 
doorway  loudly  expressing  her  views  of  "boys  who 
would  be  so  pig-headed." 

Paul  might  have  put  up  the  bunk  at  once  but  for 
the  fact  that  he  was  weary  of  body  and  his  eyes  heavy 
with  slumber,  therefore  on  arriving  at  the  shanty  he 
threw  the  bed  upon  the  flooring  of  boards,  covered  it 
with  blankets,  and  laid  down  to  dreamless  sleep. 

He  was  awakened  by  the  opening  of  the  door,  and 
starting  up  suddenly  saw  Sam  holding  in  his  hands  a 
tray  on  which  were  several  dishes  covered  with  a 
snowy  white  towel,  the  visitor  saying  as  he  laid  his 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  89 

burden  on  the  trunk  containing  the  telegraph  instru- 
ments : 

"Ma'm  got  tired  of  waitin'.  She's  kept  this  stuff 
in  the  oven  nigh  to  two  hours,  thinkin'  you'd  come, 
an'  when  I  turned  out  she  allowed  I'd  got  to  bring  it 
up  here,  though  it  does  seem  as  if  you  might  set  down 
to  the  table  with  us  like  Christian  folks." 

"Have  you  had  dinner?"  Paul  exclaimed,  starting 
to  his  feet  hurriedly  and  gazing  out  of  the  door. 
"What  time  is  it?" 

"Nigh  to  three  o'clock." 

"Three  o'clock!  and  Ned  was  in  his  station  at 
twelve-thirty!  Why  I've  slept  more  than  six  hours." 

"I  reckon  that's  what  you  have  done,"  Sam  replied 
with  a  grin.  "You  was  reelin'  it  off  mighty  loud  when 
I  opened  the  door." 

"Has  father  come  yet?" 

"Haven't  seen  anythin'  of  him.  Didn't  you  allow 
that  'ere  wireless  tangle  of  yours  said  he  was  comin' 
at  noon?" 

"That's  what  he  promised,"  Paul  said  curtly  as  he 
stepped  out  of  the  shanty  to  where  he  could  have  a  view 
of  the  cove,  much  as  if  believing  his  father  must  be  in 
sight. 

"Did  he  promise  it,  or  was  it  somethin'  you 
dreamed?"  and  Sam's  tone  was  exceedingly  aggravat- 
ing. "You've  got  a  good  many  queer  notions  about 
what  this  'ere  wireless  thing  of  yours,  as  you  call  it, 
can  do,  an',  as  father  says,  it  ain't  any  ways  certain 
but  that  you  are  gettin'  mixed  a  good  deal  in  your 
reckonin'.  I  ain't  claimin'  but  you  believe  you've 


90 

talked  with  the  folks  over  to  Seaview,"  he  added  as 
Paul  turned  upon  him  angrily.  "Father  says  most 
likely  you  are  honest  enough  in  it;  but  things  ain't 
quite  what  you're  allowin'  they  are." 

Paul  made  no  reply,  save  to  say  as  he  laid  hold  of 
the  shanty  door : 

"If  you  will  go  out  I'll  lock  the  door.  Father  must 
come  soon,  and  I'll  be  at  the  cove  to  meet  him." 

"But  what  about  your  dinner?"  and  Sam  made  no 
attempt  to  do  as  he  was  bidden. 

"That  can  wait.  Go  out  so  that  I  may  lock  the 
door." 

"An'  hold  my  hand  on  my  head  till  your  father  gets 
here,  you  mean,  eh  ?"  the  island  boy  said  as  he  slowly 
obeyed  the  command.  "Wa'al  now  see  here,  Paul, 
I'm  allowin  '  it  will  be  a  mighty  long  while  'tween 
meals  if  you  don't  eat  before  he  comes.  Anyhow,  it's 
none  of  my  business  if  you  want  to  starve  yourself." 

Paul  had  locked  the  door  and  was  walking  rapidly 
toward  the  cove  before  Sam  ceased  speaking.  He  was 
reproaching  himself  with  having  slept  when  he  should 
have  been  on  duty.  It  seemed  to  him  certain  that  Ned 
was  in  the  Seaview  Station  exactly  at  the  hour  ap- 
pointed, and  that  he  must  have  called  and  called  with- 
out receiving  any  reply.  Perhaps  his  father  had  tried 
to  send  him  a  message,  telling  why  he  could  not  come 
as  agreed  upon,  of  which  he  must  remain  in  ignorance 
because  of  having  neglected  his  duty,  and  for  the  time 
being  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  was  as  culpable  in  this 
respect  as  Sam  and  Ernest  had  been  the  night  previous. 

The  farmer  was  at  the  head  of  the  cove  when  Paul 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  91 

came  down  looking  woefully  disappointed,  and  he  said 
with  an  expression  which  was  equally  as  irritating  as 
Sam's  grin : 

"I  allow  that  'ere  contraption  of  yours  didn't  tell  the 
truth  when  it  said  your  father  would  be  here  at  noon, 
eh?" 

"He  will  come  before  night,"  Paul  replied  sharply. 

"Did  you  get  the  message  on  air,  same's  the  other?" 

"I  got  it  directly  from  my  father,  and  if  I  hadn't 
allowed  myself  to  sleep  when  I  should  have  been  on 
duty,  we  would  know  by  this  time  why  he  isn't  here." 

"Wa'al,  I'm  glad  you've  got  such  comfortin' 
thoughts,  lad,"  Mr.  Downs  replied  with  a  drawl. 
"Some  folks  would  have  turned  square  about  an' 
agreed  that  there  wasn't  anythin'  in  this  air  business, 
while  then  agin,  some  others  would  keep  on  allowin' 
it  was  all  right,  same's  you're  doin',  so  as  I  said  before, 
I'm  glad  you've  got  so  much  to  comfort  you." 

"Father  will  be  here  before  sunset,"  Paul  repeated 
as  he  turned  sharply  around,  intent  only  on  going 
where  it  would  not  be  possible  to  hear  or  see  either  Mr. 
Downs  or  his  sons,  and  the  farmer  called  after  him : 

"If  you  haven't  got  it  any  straighter  now  than  you 
had  this  mornin',  why  we  won't  stay  out  of  bed 
watchin'  for  him." 


CHAPTER  VI 

A   WELCOME   ARRIVAL 

THE  only  question  in  Paul's  mind,  aside  from  that 
as  to  why  his  father's  arrival  had  been  delayed,  was 
how  he  might  occupy  his  time  until  six  o'clock,  when 
Ned  was  to  be  at  the  Seaview  station,  without  coming 
in  contact  with  the  Downs  family. 

It  was  only  natural  he  should  go  directly  to  the 
shanty  after  his  rather  disagreeable  interview  with  the 
farmer,  and  immediately  after  arriving  there  he  hit 
upon  a  plan  for  causing  the  time  to  seem  to  pass  more 
rapidly  than  if  he  remained  idly  on  the  watch  for  his 
father's  coming. 

"I'll  build  that  bunk  now,  and  fix  up  the  shanty  so 
there  won't  be  any  need  of  going  to  the  farm-house 
except  when  I'm  hungry,"  he  said  as  he  entered  the 
small  apartment,  and  then,  his  glance  falling  upon  the 
food  which  Sam  had  brought  some  time  previous,  he 
decided  to  begin  operations  by  eating  the  long-delayed 
dinner.- 

Mrs.  Downs  had  sent  him  sufficient  food  to  provide 
a  hearty  meal  for  at  least  three  hungry  boys,  and  there- 
fore, when  he  had  hurriedly  satisfied  his  hunger,  there 
remained  in  the  way  of  provisions  enough  for  supper 
and  breakfast. 

"I'll  have  to  make  a  cupboard  to  keep  the  surplus 
food  in,"  he  said,  speaking  aloud  as  if  in  the  sound  of 
his  own  voice  he  found  a  certain  sense  of  companion- 

09 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  93 

ship,  "for  there  is  no  knowing  how  many  times  I  may 
find  it  desirable  to  skip  a  meal  at  the  farm-house.  Of 
course  I  shan't  want  to  do  so  to-night,  because  father 
must  be  here  before  supper-time;  but  it's  a  good  idea 
to  be  prepared  for  almost  anything  on  Barren  island, 
as  I  have  already  found  out." 

There  was  sufficient  lumber  near  at  hand  for  his 
limited  wants,  and  before  the  time  set  for  Ned's  visit 
to  the  Seaview  station,  not  only  the  bunk,  but  a  .rude 
cupboard,  had  been  built  against  the  side  of  the  shanty. 

He  did  not  neglect  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout  over  the 
water  in  the  direction  of  Seaview  while  he  labored, 
and  his  disappointment  and  perplexity  increased  each 
moment,  for,  as  far  as  his  vision  extended,  there  was 
no  craft,  however  small,  to  be  seen. 

As  on  the  previous  night,  he  succeeded  in  working 
himself  into  a  most  uncomfortable  frame  of  mind 
through  imagining  all  sorts  of  disagreeable  things 
which  might  have  happened  to  his  father,  and  by  spec- 
ulating unwisely  upon  the  possible  course  which  Mr. 
Downs  and  his  sons  would  pursue  after  having  proven, 
as  they  believed,  that  the  wireless  telegraph  was  a  de- 
lusion if  not  a  snare. 

The  only  pleasing  thing  about  this  working,  wait- 
ing and  watching  was  that  neither  of  the  Downs  fam- 
ily came  near  him,  and  perhaps  it  was  fortunate  they 
remained  absent,  for  he  was  in  such  a  nervous,  excited 
frame  of  mind  that  had  Sam  stood  before  him  with 
that  exasperating  grin  upon  his  face,  the  chances  are 
there  would  have  been  a  wordy  quarrel  between  the 
two,  if  nothing  more. 


9.4  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Fifteen  minutes  before  six  Paul  had  his  instruments 
in  working  order,  and  began  calling  n-d  with  a  view 
of  having  something  with  which  to  occupy  his  mind 
and  his  fingers. 

Promptly  at  the  time  set  Ned  answered  the  call,  and 
feverishly  Paul  sent  out  wave  sounds  which  read,  as 
his  friend  received  them : 

"Has  father  left  Seaview  yet?" 

''I  tried  to  tell  you  about  it  this  noon.  Where  were 
you?  Wasn't  the  station  working?"  came  back  the 
reply,  and  Paul  almost  winced  as  he  wired  back: 

"I  was  chasing  around  the  island  all  last  night,  and 
when  I  fell  asleep  this  morning,  did  not  awaken  till 
three  o'clock.  Where  is  father?" 

"He  couldn't  find  Zenas  Gushing  as  early  as  he  ex- 
pected, and  decided  to  wait  until  this  evening  in  order 
to  learn  for  himself  if  you  were  right  in  believing  that 
the  Downs  boys  did  not  keep  sharp  watch.  His  orders 
are  for  you  to  stay  in  the  station,  giving  no  heed  to  any- 
thing outside.  If  he  can  land  without  their  knowing 
it,  he  will  join  you  at  the  shanty." 

"Is  he  coming  in  my  old  boat  ?"  Paul  asked,  and  the 
reply  was  received : 

"Yes." 

"He  will  have  to  lengthen  the  muffler,  or  they  will 
hear  him  before  he  gets  within  two  miles." 

"Don't  worry  about  that.  He  has  got  a  better 
scheme  than  fooling  with  the  muffler.  I  am  in  a 
hurry.  Have  you  anything  more  to  say  ?" 

"Sure  father  is  coming?" 

"Certain;  but  don't  tell  the  Downses." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  95 

"O.  K.    Good-by." 

Ned  delayed  long  enough  to  wire  back  his  good-by, 
and  communication  between  Barren  island  and  Sea- 
view  was  shut  off;  but  during  the  brief  exchange  of 
words  it  was  as  if  a  new  boy  had  taken  Paul's  place — 
one  who  was  free  from  care,  and  anticipated  no  little 
pleasure,  as  might  have  been  told  from  the  expression 
on  his  face. 

"Now  Sam  Downs  can  jolly  me  all  he  pleases,"  Paul 
said  to  himself  with  a  chuckle  of  satisfaction  as  he 
closed  the  lid  of  the  heavy  trunk  and  locked  it,  after 
having  switched  off  the  motor.  "The  father  as  well  as 
the  sons  have  come  to  believe  by  this  time  that  there  is 
nothing  in  this  wireless  business,  and  between  now  and 
midnight,  unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,  a  dozen  people 
might  land  here  secretly." 

At  this  moment  the  horn  could  be  heard  sounding  a 
prolonged  and  peremptory  summons  to  supper,  and  the 
lad  from  Seaview  decided  that  he  would  join  the  fam- 
ily, although  so  far  as  concerned  his  appetite  there  was 
no  good  reason  for  so  doing. 

As  Paul  had  expected,  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  had 
very  much  to  say  concerning  the  possibility  of  sending 
messages  on  air,  and  asked  many  questions  as  to  why 
he  had  imagined  his  father  would  come  across  to  the 
island  that  day. 

An  hour  previous  such  a  fire  of  raillery  and  incredul- 
ity would  have  provoked  him  to  anger ;  but  now  he  en- 
joyed their  wilfully  disagreeable  remarks,  because  of 
knowing  that  before  morning  the  tables  would  be 
turned. 


96  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"No,  I  am  not  ready  to  say  that  the  wireless  tele- 
graph doesn't  work  exactly  as  it  should;  but  father 
failed  to  come  when  I  believed  he  would,"  Paul  said 
in  reply  to  a  bantering  question  from  Mr.  Downs. 
"Within  the  next  twenty-four  hours,  however,  you  are 
going  to  be  willing  to  admit  that  all  I  have  said  is 
true." 

"That  is  right,  lad.  Keep  puttin'  it  off.  Last  night 
we  was  goin'  to  know  before  mornin';  this  mornin' 
we  would  know  before  night,  an'  now  we'll  know  be- 
fore to-morrow.  I'm  allowin '  the  summer  will  be 
passed  with  you  still  settin'  the  day  ahead." 

Because  Paul  made  no  reply  Mrs.  Downs  found,  for 
the  first  time,  an  opportunity  to  ask  him  his  reasons 
for  not  coming  to  dinner,  and  why  he  failed  to 
bring  back  with  him  the  dishes  on  which  she  had  sent 
the  food. 

Sam  undertook  to  answer  the  question  by  explain- 
ing, in  what  he  thought  a  highly  humorous  manner, 
the  condition  in  which  he  had  found  the  operator  when 
he  entered  the  building,  and  Paul  added  to  the  fund  of 
information  by  saying  there  was  so  much  food  remain- 
ing that  he  had  kept  it  in  the  shanty  in  order  to  have 
a  lunch  during  the  night,  in  the  event  of  his  remaining 
there. 

"Mercy  on  us!  Are  you  cotmtin'  on  stayin'  out  of 
your  bed  agin?"  Mrs.  Downs  exclaimed  in  dismay. 
"There's  no  sense  in  a  boy  like  you  workin'  himself 
up  over  such  a  whifflin'  creeter  as  a  fox.  Father  tells 
me  you've  got  an  idee  Sam  an'  Ernest  ain't  doin'  what 
they  ought'er.  Why  bless  your  heart,  Paul,  they  was 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  97 

born  an'  bred  on  this  'ere  island,  so  it  stands  to  reason 
both  of  'em  know  every  inch  of  it,  an'  it  would  be  a 
pretty  smart  kind  of  a  man  who  could  get  past  'em 
without  bein'  seen  or  heard." 

"I'm  goin'  to  take  your  word  for  it  to-night,  at  least, 
Mrs.  Downs,"  Paul  said  with  a  serious  air.  "I  do  not 
intend  to  stand  guard  while  they  are  on  duty;  but  I 
must  stay  in  the  shanty  in  case  any  one  at  Seaview 
calls  me." 

"Wa'al,  that  won't  be  so  bad  seein's  how  you've  got 
a  bed  an'  blankets,"  the  good  woman  replied  reflec- 
tively ;  "but  it  does  seem  as  if  you  ought'er  come  inter 
the  house  like  a  decent  boy." 

"He'll  be  as  well  off  there  as  here,  mother,"  Mr. 
Downs  said  decidedly,  and  Paul  fancied  he  could  de- 
tect an  expression  of  relief  on  the  faces  of  Sam  and 
Ernest  when  he  had  said  it  was  not  his  intention  to 
stand  watch  during  the  night. 

"That  'ere  shanty  is  water-tight,  if  two  thickness  of 
boards  can  make  it  so,  an'  after  he  has  put  up  a  bunk 
matters  will  be  right  snug." 

"I  have  only  built  a  framework  for  the  mattress; 
but  I've  made  a  closet  to  keep  my  food  in,  and  if  there 
was  any  need  for  it  I  might  remain  there  two  or  three 
days  and  not  suffer  discomfort  or  inconvenience,"  Paul 
said  cheerily,  rising  from  the  table  after  having  gone 
through  the  form  of  eating  supper  without  consuming 
any  great  amount  of  food. 

"But  surely,  child,  you're  not  going  back  there  so 
soon!"  Mrs.  Downs  cried  in  a  motherly  tone.  "Stay 
here  an'  visit  with  us  a  while.  It  don't  really  seem  as 


98  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

if  I  had  seen  you,  'cause  you've  been  out  of  doors  so 
much  since  your  friend  went  back.  Now  he  was  a  real 
likable  boy ;  didn't  bother  his  head  any  too  much  'bout 
what  was  bein'  done;  took  things  as  they  come,  an' 
was  lively  'round  the  house." 

"Perhaps  you  might  say  the  same  of  me  if  I  hadn't 
been  feeling  so  anxious  about  the  foxes,"  Paul  replied 
with  a  laugh,  "but  most  likely  that  will  wear  off  after 
a  while." 

"It  sure  will,  "  Mr.  Downs  said  in  a  tone  of  convic- 
tion, while  Sam  and  Ernest  grinned  exasperatingly. 
"You've  kind  of  got  the  idee  in  your  head  that  this 
island  an'  everything  on  it  would  go  to  everlastin' 
smash  if  you  didn't  keep  an  eye  out,  an'  when  you 
find  that  things  will  run  'bout  the  same  whether  you're 
on  deck  or  not,  why  it  won't  come  so  hard  on  you. 
Be  you  really  goin'  now,  instead  of  stoppin'  a  spell 
with  mother  an'  me?" 

"I  want  to  make  ready  for  the  night,  and  shall  feel 
easier  in  mind  if  I'm  there,"  Paul  replied,  and  Sam 
added  with  a  grin: 

"He  wants  to  get  that  contraption  of  his  workin' 
'twixt  now  an'  mornin',  so's  he  can  prove  that  it's  what 
he  claims  for  it." 

"It'll  be  a  long  while  'twixt  now  an'  another  day  if 
the  sun  don't  shine  till  he  prove  that  messages  may  be 
sent  on  air,"  Ernest  added,  and  his  father  joined  him 
in  a  noisy  laugh  of  derision,  during  which  Paul  left 
the  house. 

Once  again  at  the  shanty  he  set  his  instrument  and 
the  motor  ready  to  be  connected  at  an  instant's  notice, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  99 

and  lighted  the  lantern,  hanging  it  where  the  rays 
might  be  seen  through  the  small  window  as  a  guide  for 
his  father's  steps. 

Then  he  threw  himself  upon  the  bed,  thinking  how 
snug  and  comfortable  everything  was,  when  he  could 
thus  shut  himself  in  from  those  whom  he  had  begun 
to  dislike  because  of  not  being  able  to  trust  them,  and 
again  reproaching  himself  because  he  had  not  taken 
advantage  of  the  second  opportunity  which  presented 
itself,  to  inform  his  father  of  the  fittings  that  would 
be  needed  in  order  to  put  the  disabled  boat  into  com- 
mission. 

"I  shall  have  to  make  a  memorandum  of  such 
things  as  ought  to  be  done,  and  pin  it  up  on  the  wall 
so  that  when  I  am  in  communication  with  Ned  the 
writing  can  be  seen,"  he  thought,  and  would  have  car- 
ried the  idea  into  execution  then  and  there  but  that  he 
was  resting  so  comfortably  and  securely  both  in  body 
and  mind.  "Of  course  I  shan't  go  to  sleep  after  hav- 
ing had  so  much  of  it  to-day,  and  I'll  be  able  to  hear 
father  when  he  comes.  How  surprised  the  Downs 
family  will  be!"  • 

Then  it  was  that  he  seemingly  slipped  away  from 
his  surroundings ;  ceased  to  think  of  anything  unpleas- 
ant, and  his  slow,  regular  breathing  told  that  he  had 
gone  over  into  the  land  of  Nod  even  while  deciding 
that  he  would  not  do  so. 

It  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  had  but  just  lost  himself 
in  the  unconsciousness  of  slumber  when  the  sudden 
opening  of  the  door  admitted  a  gust  of  cold  wind,  and 
in  a  twinkling  he  was  on  his  feet  facing  Sam,  who 


ioo  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

wore,  as  usual,  that  grin  which,  as  Paul  afterward 
said,  "got  on  his  nerves  terribly." 

"Snoozin',  eh?"  the  lad  asked,  looking  around  curi- 
ously as  if  expecting  to  see  something  unusual. 

"Why  shouldn't  I  sleep  while  you  and  Ernest  are 
on  watch  ?"  Paul  replied,  although  at  the  same  time  he 
felt  a  certain  sense  of  shame  because  he  had  allowed 
himself  to  yield  so  readily  to  slumber. 

"Wa'al,  I  can't  say  as  there's  any  reason  why  you 
shouldn't ;  but  I'd  be  willin'  to  change  places  with  you 
this  very  minute,  for  it's  a  nasty  kind  of  a  night  with 
the  wind  off  here  to  the  nor' east,  an'  that's  a  fact.  We 
don't  often  get  nor'east  gales  in  the  summer ;  but  when 
they  do  come  a  fellow  feels  'em.  Had  four  last  sea- 
son, an'  there  was  a  full  week  when  we  couldn't  launch 
a  boat.  Say,  what's  the  sense  in  standin'  watch  to- 
night? Listen  to  the  breakers  off  Swallow-Tailed 
cove !  I  tell  you  the  surf  is  reg'larly  roarin',  an'  who'd 
think  of  landin'." 

"It  seems  to  me  this  would  be  the  very  night  when 
you  might  expect  your  friend,  John  Ed  Bingham." 

"Haven't  got  him  out  of  your  mind  yet,  eh?"  Sam 
asked,  his  grin  broadening  until  Paul  was  quite  confi- 
dent that  he  should  lose  his  temper  if  he  gazed  at  the 
lad  any  longer. 

"No,  and  I  shan't  be  likely  to  forget  him  until  it's 
known  who  landed  here  last  night,  disabled  the  Hamp- 
ton boat,  an'  came  up  on  the  shore." 

"Wa'al,  now  do  you  know,  Paul,  I'm  kinder 
thinkin'  you  dreamed  that,  same's  you  did  about  get- 
tin'  a  message  from  your  father." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  101 

"Take  a  look  at  the  boat,  and  say  whether  you  call 
that  a  dream  or  not." 

"Ernest  an'  I  went  aboard  of  her  this  afternoon,  an' 
we've  kinder  come  to  the  belief  you  left  things  that 
way.  I  remember  how  mixed  up  you  was  about  the 
foxes,  an'  as  likely  as  not  you  did  it  unbeknownst  to 
yourself." 

"A  fellow  who  owns  a  boat  like  mine  is  very  likely 
to  disable  her  without  knowing  it,"  Paul  said  scorn- 
fully, and  Sam  was  satisfied  to  let  the  conversation 
drop  there,  since  he  had  turned  it  from  the  question 
as  to  whether  John  Ed  Bingham  had  visited  Barren 
island  or  not. 

"Wa'al,  what  do  you  say  'bout  knockin'  off,  seein's 
how  a  storm  is  brewin'?" 

"It  isn't  for  me  to  decide,"  Paul  said  sharply. 
"Your  orders  were  to  keep  strict  watch,  and  certain  it 
is  that  any  one  who  came  here  in  a  boat  now  could 
beach  her  in  the  cove  without  danger." 

"But  who's  comin'  ?" 

"That's  a  question  which  can't  be  answered,  as  a 
matter  of  course.  Your  agreement  was  to  keep  watch 
every  night,  and  nothing  was  said  about  turning  in 
when  the  weather  was  dirty." 

"Why  is  it  you  ain't  snoopin'  'round  the  same  as 
before?" 

"Because  your  mother  insisted  that  you  and  Ernest 
would  do  the  work." 

"We'll  see  to  it  that  nobody  comes  ashore,  an'  that's 
our  end  of  the  bargain,"  Sam  replied  sulkily.  "But 
it  seems  kinder  tough  to  peg  away  from  now  till 


102  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

mornin',  while  you  are  boxed  in  here  so  snug  an'  com- 
fortable." 

"I  haven't  been  hired,  or  ordered,  to  stand  watch." 

"Oh,  you  haven't?  It  seems  to  me  you're  singin'  a 
different  tune  from  what  you  did  last  night?" 

"All  I  sung  then  was  that  it  was  my  duty  to  see  that 
you  did  your  work  faithfully." 

"An'  you're  kind'er  shirkin'  it  now  'cause  the 
weather  ain't  fine?" 

"I'm  obeyin'  orders,"  Paul  said  sharply,  "and  you 
are  to  do  the  same." 

Sam  looked  much  as  if  about  to  make  some  angry 
reply;  then,  evidently  thinking  better  of  it,  turned  on 
his  heel  and  went  out,  slamming  the  door  behind  him 
with  a  force  which  shook  every  timber  in  the  frail 
structure. 

Although  he  had  not  so  intended,  Master  Downs 
had  done  a  good  turn  for  Paul  by  awakening  him,  be- 
cause the  lad  would  have  been  covered  with  shame 
and  confusion  had  his  father  found  him  asleep,  even 
though  his  orders  were  only  to  remain  snug  inside  the 
shanty  without  taking  part  in  guard  duty. 

"They  don't  intend  to  stand  watch  after  dark,  and  if 
father  shouldn't  come  as  he  has  agreed,  I'm  certain 
both  those  boys  will  go  quietly  to  bed  to-morrow 
night  whatever  the  weather  may  be,"  Paul  said  to 
himself  as  he  paced  to  and  fro  the  shanty  floor  to  drive 
the  heaviness  of  slumber  from  his  eyelids. 

Twice  during  the  next  hour  the  lad  went  out  of 
doors  and  walked  around  the  station  to  insure  wake- 
fulness,  after  which  he  became  seriously  alarmed  con- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  103 

cerning  his  father,  for  the  wind  was  increasing  in 
force,  and  to  his  inexperienced  eyes  it  seemed  certain 
a  storm  would  break  before  midnight. 

"The  old  dory  could  hold  her  own  in  a  gale  like 
this,"  he  said  half  to  himself;  "but  I  should  want  to 
bring  her  up  into  the  wind,  without  making  any  at- 
tempt to  gain  the  island,  if  I  was  on  board.  Besides, 
it  is  doubtful  if  father  knows  the  course  well  enough 
to  pick  out  the  entrance  to  the  cove  while  it  is  so  dark." 

It  was  not  a  difficult  matter  for  Paul  to  work  him- 
self, by  aid  of  his  imagination,  into  a  very  unenviable 
frame  of  mind,  and  he  was  nervously  pacing  the  floor 
when  the  door  opened  softly,  causing  an  exclamation 
of  joy  and  relief  to  burst  from  his  lips,  for  as  the  visi- 
tor stepped  within  the  feeble  rays  of  light  cast  by  the 
lantern,  he  saw  his  father. 

"If  you  could  only  know  how  glad  I  am  that  you 
have  come!"  he  cried  passionately,  and  Mr.  Simpson, 
putting  his  arm  around  the  lad's  neck  affectionately, 
said  with  a  laugh : 

"I  cannot  believe  that  your  joy  is  much  greater  than 
mine,  for  Zenas  and  I  had  a  rough  time  of  it  when  we 
shut  off  the  motor  and  took  to  the  oars." 

As  he  spoke  Mr.  Simpson  half  turned,  and  Paul  saw 
a  young  fellow  nineteen  or  twenty  years  of  age,  heavily 
built,  with  an  honest,  friendly  looking  face,  who  had 
closed  the  door  behind  him  and  was  standing  with  his 
back  against  it  until  the  father  and  son  should  have  ex- 
changed greetings. 

"Why  did  you  shut  off  the  motor?"  Paul  asked  in 
surprise. 


104  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Because  your  muffler  doesn't  muffle,  and  we  knew 
that  our  watchmen  here  on  the  island  might  hear  us  a 
long  distance  away." 

"Did  you  land  without  seeing  them,  sir?" 

"Ay,  that  we  did,  and  what's  more,  circled  around 
the  farm-house  without  taking  especial  heed  as  to 
whether  we  made  any  noise  or  not,  and  then  came 
across  here.  You  were  right  in  insisting  that  I  should 
see  for  myself,  Paul,  how  the  work  is  being  done.  To 
my  mind  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  we  pre- 
vent any  one  from  coming  ashore  until  the  foxes  are 
domesticated;  and  whether  that  be  true  or  not,  I  am 
paying  for  such  work,  and  intend  it  shall  be  done  even 
if  we  are  obliged  to  send  away  the  Downs  family,  root 
and  branch." 

"Then  you  two  have  been  rowing  in  this  heavy 
sea?"  Paul  said  solicitously,  and  Zenas  Gushing  re- 
plied with  a  laugh  which  was  much  like  the  purring  of 
a  cat: 

"It  seems  as  if  we'd  been  at  the  oars  full  half 
the  night.  That  'ere  screw  dragged  water  terrible, 
an'  it  was  like  pullin'  a  mud  scow  to  work  the  dory 
ahead." 

"I  was  afraid  you  wouldn't  find  the  entrance  to  the 
cove." 

"No  fear  of  that,"  Mr.  Simpson  replied.  "Zenas 
knows  this  island  almost  as  well  as  do  the  Downs  fam- 
ily, and  put  us  in  here  at  the  first  attempt.  Where  are 
the  watchers?" 

"Somewhere  asleep,  I  fancy,"  Paul  said  cheerily, 
feeling  now  that  all  his  responsibility  was  at  an  end, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  105 

and  he  told  of  Sam's  visit  earlier  in  the  night,  repeat- 
ing the  conversation. 

"Matters  will  go  on  different  from  this  out,"  Mr. 
Simpson  added  confidently.  "I  can  depend  on  Zenas, 
and  between  the  two  of  you  it  should  be  possible  to 
keep  the  Downs  boys  at  their  work.  The  question  now 
is  as  to  whether  we  will  arouse  the  family?  I  was 
forced  to  come  away  without  any  supper,  and  am  need- 
ing something  in  the  way  of  food." 

Now  it  was  that  Paul  rejoiced  because  he  had  not 
been  sufficiently  hungry  to  eat  all  that  had  been  sent  to 
him,  and  he  threw  open  the  rude  closet  with  an  air  of 
triumph. 

In  a  twinkling  the  tired  men  were  eating  heartily, 
and  while  they  were  thus  engaged  Paul  repeated  the 
substance  of  all  that  had  been  said  or  done  since  the 
foxes  were  set  free. 

"Yes,  I  know  John  Ed  Bingham  too  well,  perhaps," 
Mr.  Simpson  said  in  reply  to  the  question  of  his  son's. 
"Some  years  ago  I  got  out  a  warrant  for  his  arrest  on 
the  charge  of  stealing  canvas  and  spare  rigging.  It 
was  never  served  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  old  smug- 
gler took  good  care  to  give  Seaview  a  wide  berth. 
Since  you  telegraphed  yesterday  I  have  learned  from 
good  authority  that  he  knows  of  the  silver  fox  scheme, 
and  has  made  boasts  that  he  will  be  the  first  to  mar- 
ket a  pelt.  If  Bingham  was  the  only  man  along  the 
coast  whom  we  had  reason  to  fear  might  do  us  a  mis- 
chief, I  should  believe  it  possible  to  guard  our  stock; 
but  unfortunately. there  are  others  almost  as  disrep- 
utable. If  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  do  not  act  in 


io6  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

strict  accordance  with  their  agreement,  there  is  a  fair 
chance  I  shall  lose  the  money  invested  in  what  very 
many  people  believe  to  be  the  wildest,  most  ridiculous 
proposition  ever  made." 

"Meaning  that  it  would  not  be  possible  to  raise 
young  ones  from  the  foxes  you  brought,  sir?"  Paul 
asked. 

"Yes,  that  is  the  idea.  It  makes  little  difference 
whether  any  one  agrees  with  me  or  not;  but  it  does 
seem  strange  that  people  can  be  so  pig-headed  as  to 
claim  that  we  cannot  domesticate  a  silver  fox  as  well 
as  we  can  any  other  animal.  To  say  that  they  won't 
breed  here  on  Barren  island  as  well  as  in  their  native 
haunts,  seems  to  me  foolish.  The  only  difficulty  is 
to  accustom  them  to  the  place,  and  then  the  greater 
portion  of  the  work  is  done.  If,  however,  they  are 
harried  and  chased  before  having  recovered  from 
their  long  imprisonment,  the  chances  are  against  us. 
And  because  of  such  fact,  I  insist  that  no  one  shall 
come  ashore  here  without  my  permission." 

"But  can  you  prevent  people  from  landing?"  Paul 
asked  anxiously.  "Suppose  a  vessel  should  come  in 
here  to-night  for  harbor,  have  you  the  power  to  order 
her  away." 

"No,  not  if  she  makes  port  to  ride  out  a  storm.  But 
I  surely  have  the  right  to  prevent  her  crew  from  com- 
ing ashore.  This  island  has  been  leased  by  me,  with 
the  privilege  of  purchasing  it  at  any  time  within  three 
years,  therefore  it  is  the  same  as  my  property.  With 
the  majority  of  those  who  come  from  motives  of  curi- 
osity, we  shall  have  no  trouble.  It  is  those  who  are 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  107 

willing  to  commit  a  crime  for  the  sake  of  making  a 
few  dollars  whom  we  must  guard  against." 

"And  how  long  are  you  going  to  keep  people  on 
guard  here?" 

"I  hope  that  by  the  end  of  a  year,  if  my  instructions 
are  carried  out  to  the  letter,  those  who  would  kill  the 
animals  in  order  to  carry  away  the  pelts  will  have  be- 
come discouraged.  The  curious  ones  will  soon  learn 
that  it  is  no  use  to  make  the  voyage  out  here  if  they 
are  not  permitted  to  land." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  went  into  a  long  discussion  of 
rare  foxes,  such  as  the  silver,  the  blue,  and  the  black, 
whose  pelts  are  of  great  value;  but  there  is  no  reason 
why  his  words  should  be  set  down  here,  because  we 
can  read  at  greater  length  of  such  animals  in  any 
standard  work  on  zoology. 

The  night  was  nearly  spent  before  Mr.  Simpson,  so 
interested  was  he  in  the  subject,  had  concluded  his  re- 
marks upon  foxes  in  general  and  silver  foxes  in  par- 
ticular. Zenas  Gushing,  who  was  not  particularly  in- 
terested in  zoology,  owing  to  his  inability  to  under- 
stand all  the  terms  used,  had  long  since  betaken  him- 
self to  Paul's  bed,  and  was  sleeping  so  noisily  one 
could  almost  fancy  the  shanty  trembled  under  the  vi- 
brations. The  wind  had  been  increasing  in  violence 
until  now,. at  an  hour  before  break  of  day,  it  was  blow- 
ing what  seamen  would  call  "half  a  gale,"  and  driving 
before  it  the  first  tokens  of  a  downpour  of  rain. 

"If  the  three  of  us  can  find  room  on  that  bed  of 
yours,  I  think  we  had  better  try  to  get  some  sleep,  my 
son,  and  at  the  same  time  such  close  companionship 


io8  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

may  serve  to  keep  us  warm,  for  I  must  confess  that  as 
a  protection  against  the  northeast  wind  your  shanty 
is  only  a  partial  success." 

The  lad  was  quite  willing  to  act  upon  this  sugges- 
tion, for  now  that  his  father  was  here,  and  he  knew 
there  was  no  longer  any  necessity  for  him  to  personally 
hold  the  Downs  family  strictly  to  their  bargain,  he  was 
more  than  ready  to  atone  for  the  lack  of  sleep. 

Five  minutes  later,  lying  under  the  blankets  as 
snugly  as  sardines  are  packed  in  a  box,  Mr.  Simpson, 
his  son,  and  Zenas  slept  the  sleep  of  wearied  mortals. 

Two  hours  later  the  horn  was  sounded  again  and 
again  from  the  farm-house  without  being  heard  by  the 
lad  it  was  intended  to  summon,  and  shortly  after  Mr. 
Downs,  whether  from  motives  of  hospitality  or  curi- 
osity one  could  not  say,  came  into  the  shanty  without 
ceremony,  bringing  with  him  a  gust  of  wind  and  a 
shower  of  rain  which  aroused  the  sleepers  on  the  in- 
stant. 

A  most  comical  picture  it  would  be,  if  one  could  de- 
pict in  words  the  varying  expressions  on  the  farmer's 
face  when  he  saw  his  employer  rising  from  the  rude 
bed,  and  standing  before  him. 

He  gazed  first  at  Mr.  Simpson  and  then  at  the  tele- 
graph instruments,  as  if  asking  if  it  was  really  possi- 
ble that  the  "contraption"  had  summoned  the  owner  of 
Silver  Fox  Farm.  Ever  and  again  he  glanced  at  Paul, 
and  the  lad  fancied  he  could  see  in  Mr.  Downs's  eyes 
the  question  as  to  whether  all  that  had  been  said  to  the 
boy  by  the  dwellers  on  the  island  was  known  to  this 
unexpected  visitor.  There  were  surprise,  apprehension, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  109 

doubt,  and  disagreeable  anticipation,  all  and  at  the 
same  time  written  upon  the  weather-beaten  face,  and 
it  seemed  impossible  for  the  old  man  to  give  utterance 
to  a  single  word. 

"Well,  Mr.  Downs,  weren't  you  expecting  to  see 
me?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  in  a  friendly  tone.  "Didn't 
Paul  tell  you  I  was  coming?" 

"Wa'al  now,  neighbor,  he's  been  singin'  that  song 
ever  since  yesterday,  an'  you  hadn't  come  up  to  last 
night.  Is  it  true  you  sent  word  to  him  on  the  air  that 
you'd  be  here?" 

"I  sent  him  a  message  over  the  wireless  to  that  ef- 
fect." 

"Sho,  now!  You  don't  really  mean  to  tell  me  that 
he  an'  that  boy  what  helped  him  build  this  shanty,  can 
talk  to  each  other  while  one  is  at  Seaview  and  the  other 
here,  do  you?" 

"Why,  certainly.  I  should  have  supposed  Paul 
would  have  explained  everything  to  you  long  before 
this." 

"Wa'al,  he  did  make  a  good  deal  of  talk,  but  bless 
your  soul,  who  could  put  any  credit  in  it  when  they 
knew  there  wasn't  nothin'  'twixt  and  between  the  two 
places  but  air.  What's  brought  you  over  here  so  sud- 
den like?" 

"Paul  told  me  that  night  before  last  some  person 
landed  here  in  a  boat,  despite  the  fact  that  you  and 
your  sons  were  supposed  to  be  on  watch.  I  haye  too 
much  money  at  stake  to  warrant  my  neglecting  such 
information  as  that,  therefore  came  over  to  learn  more 
regarding  the  matter." 


no  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Wa'al  now,  neighbor,  I  reckon  you've  wasted  your 
time  an'  your  labor,"  Mr.  Downs  began  hesitatingly. 
"To  tell  the  truth,  he  did  see  what  he  allowed  was  the 
mark  of  a  dory  on  the  sand,  an'  there  were  some  foot- 
prints ;  but  bless  your  soul  how  could  you,  or  he,  or  any 
of  us  tell  whether  they  were  made  then,  or  four  an' 
twenty  hours  before?" 

"If  they  were  plainly  visible  half-way  between  high 
and  low  water  mark,  and  the  tide  had  ebbed,  it  is  cer- 
tainly sufficient  proof  that  they  were  made  within 
three  hours  of  the  time  he  found  them,"  Mr.  Simpson 
said  sternly,  and  Farmer  Downs  replied  with  some 
hesitation : 

"Wa'al,  wa'al,  perhaps  that  might  be,  neighbor ;  but 
at  the  same  time  I  ain't  allowin'  as  there  has  been  any 
harm  done.  My  boys,  as  Paul  can  tell  you,  were  up 
an*  'round  all  night." 

"It  matters  little  how  much  they  were  up,  if  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  stop  any  person  from  coming 
ashore,  and  I  intend  to  take  such  measures  as  will  pre- 
vent anything  of  the  kind  from  occurring  again." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say  that  we  ain't  workin'  to  satisfy 
you,  neighbor?" 

"You  certainly  are  not,  if  people  can  land  here  with- 
out your  knowledge,  and  the  proof  this  last  may  be 
possible,  is  that  Zenas  Gushing  and  I  came  ashore  be- 
fore midnight,  walked  entirely  around  your  house, 
and  over  here,  without  seeing  any  member  of  your 
family." 

Mr.  Downs's  eyes  dropped  as  he  tried  in  vain  to 
assume  an  expression  of  astonishment,  and  he  was  ap- 
parently unable  to  utter  a  word. 


CHAPTER  VII 

QUESTIONABLE  VISITORS 

MR.  SIMPSON  waited  in  vain  while  one  might  have 
counted  twenty  for  the  farmer  to  make  some  reply, 
and  then,  as  if  dismissing  the  matter  from  his  mind, 
he  said  in  a  friendly  tone: 

"I  fancy  the  coming  of  Zenas  and  myself  won't  in- 
commode your  wife,  so  far  as  breakfast  is  concerned  ?" 

"Not  a  bit  of  it;  not  a  bit  of  it,  sir,"  and  Mr.  Downs 
seemed  to  have  recovered  his  composure  in  a  certain 
degree.  "Breakfast  is  ready,  an'  all  that's  needed  is 
for  you  to  come  down  to  the  house  an'  get  it.  I  allow 
there's  enough  to  eat,  no  matter  how  many  may  come." 

Mr.  Simpson  led  the  way  out  into  the  storm,  mo- 
tioning for  Paul  and  Zenas  to  follow  him,  and  the 
surprise  of  the  Downs  boys,  when  the  newcomers  en- 
tered the  farm-house,  was  in  the  highest  degree  comi- 
cal. 

"Here's  Mr.  Simpson  come  over  last  night  to  make 
us  a  call,  mother,  an'  I  declare  I  can't  understand  how 
he  landed  without  you  boys  seein'  him,"  the  farmer 
began  in  what  he  intended  should  be  a  jovial  tone. 
"I'm  allowin'  you  kept  watch  same  as  I  cautioned  you 
to  do,  from  sunset  to  sunrise,  eh?" 

"That's  what  we  did,"  Ernest  replied  stoutly,  "an' 
never  went  under  cover  till  it  began  to  rain.  Where 
did  you  come  ashore,  sir?"  he  asked,  assuming  an  ex- 
pression of  innocent  surprise. 

HI 


ii2  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"In  the  cove.  You  can  see  where  we've  hauled  our 
boat  out,"  Mr.  Simpson  replied  quietly,  as  if  it  was  a 
matter  of  but  little  concern  to  him. 

''Well,  I  declare!"  Sam  exclaimed.  "An*  you  come 
here  in  the  dark?  Seems  as  though  you  must  have  a 
pretty  good  idee  of  Barren  island  to  run  in  without 
strikin'  either  point  of  the  cove?" 

"Yes,"  was  the  gentleman's  quiet  reply,  "it  is  al- 
most as  much  of  a  mystery  as  why  you  failed  to  see  us 
when  we  came  up  here  to  the  house;"  and  jthen,  with- 
out waiting  for  an  invitation,  he  seated  himself  at  the 
table. 

Mrs.  Downs  had  not  spoken  when  the  newcomers 
entered  the  house;  but  she  gazed  in  what  to  Paul 
seemed  very  much  like  fear,  first  at  her  husband  and 
sons,  and  then  at  Mr.  Simpson  and  Zenas,  seeming  to 
be  in  a  daze  of  bewilderment  until  the  guests  were 
seated.  Then  she  bustled  around  in  a  most  lively  fash- 
ion to  prepare  more  food,  and  the  farmer,  taking  his 
accustomed  seat,  indulged  in  a  long  blessing  on  the 
food,  which  included  a  prayer  for  the  safety  of  those 
who  had  so  unexpectedly  come  among  them.  Mr. 
Downs  exerted  himself  to  talk  on  this  subject  or  that, 
choosing  anything  rather  than  Silver  Fox  Farm,  or 
the  duties  of  himself  and  his  sons. 

"I  don't  allow  you  calkerlated  to  make  any  very 
great  visit?"  the  farmer  said  when  Mr.  Simpson  rose 
from  the  table,  Zenas  and  Paul  following  his  example ; 
"but  it  looks  as  if  you  was  here  for  quite  a  spell  now 
that  the  storm  has  set  in.  What  can  the  boys  or  me 
do  for  you  this  mornin'?" 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  113 

"Nothing,  thank  you,"  was  the  almost  curt  reply. 
"I'll  have  a  look  around  the  island,  and  after  that  has 
been  done  it  may  be  possible  I  shall  decide  to  change 
my  plans  somewhat." 

"Surely  you'll  not  go  out  in  the  storm?"  Mrs. 
Downs  cried  solicitously,  and  Paul's  father  laughed 
as  he  replied: 

"A  little  rain  won't  do  any  very  great  harm,  and 
perhaps  this  weather  is  best  suited  to  my  purpose, 
though  I'm  free  to  confess  I  shouldn't  have  chosen  a 
northeast  gale  as  the  time  for  my  visit." 

Then  he,  followed  by  Zehas  and  Paul,  went  out  of 
the  house,  leaving  Mr.  Downs  and  his  two  boys  still 
at  the  table  looking  decidedly  uncomfortable  in  mind. 

•"We  brought  over  a  stove  for  your  shanty,  Paul," 
Mr.  Simpson  said  when  they  were  outside  facing  the 
furious  gale.  "Unless  you're  afraid  of  getting  wet  it 
may  be  as  well  for  Zenas  and  you  to  set  it  up.  We 
shall  make  our  headquarters  at  the  station,  rather  than 
the  farm-house,  and  a  little  heat  there  won't  go  amiss." 

"Where  are  you  going,  sir?" 

"For  a  cruise  around  the  shore.  This  is  a  good  time 
to  ascertain  at  what  point  any  one  can  land  during  a 
heavy  sea.  I'll  join  you  at  the  shanty  by  the  time  you 
have  got  the  stove  in  running  order." 

"I  wonder  how  it  happened  that  father  thought  of 
bringing  the  stove?"  Paul  asked  curiously  as  he  and 
Zenas  went  toward  the  direction  of  the  cove,  while 
Mr.  Simpson  followed  the  line  of  coast  southward. 

"I  reckon  after  you'd  got  through  telegraphin'  how 
things  were  going  on  around  here,  he  began  to  have 


ii4  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

an  idee  your  wireless  business  was  a  pretty  big  thing, 
an'  it  might  be  you'd  need  to  stay  near  it  quite  a  spell. 
Seein's  how  we  didn't  want  to  get  here  till  after  dark, 
so's  to  find  out  whether  the  Downses  were  doing  as 
they  should,  he  had  plenty  of  time  to  think  of  all  the 
little  fixin's  that  might^be  needed.  What  puzzles  me 
is  why  you  didn't  tell  him  what  was  wanted  to  put  the 
Hampton  boat  in  commission,  for  he's  allowin'  that 
you  an'  I  shall  cruise  'round  the  island  nights,  if 
things  look  suspicious." 

"It's  simply  a  case  of  forgetting  what  I  should  have 
been  exceedingly  careful  to  remember,"  Paul  replied 
bitterly,  "and  now  it  will  be  necessary  to  make  a  trip 
to  Seaview  in  the  old  boat." 

"Well,  don't  let  that  bother  you,  for  you'll  have 
plenty  of  time;  'cordin'  to  what  your  father  said  he's 
allowin'  to  stay  here  quite  a  spell  so's  to  make  certain 
that  them  he  hires  does  what  he's  laid  out." 

The  two  were  well  soaked  with  rain  by  the  time  they 
had  carried  the  light  sheet-iron  stove  from  the  cove 
to  the  shanty ;  but  the  work  of  putting  it  in  place  did 
not  require  many  moments,  and  Mr.  Simpson  could 
not  have  made  more  than  half  the  circuit  of  the  island 
before  they  were  seated  comfortably  in  front  of  a  roar- 
ing fire,  drying  their  steaming  garments. 

The  interior  of  the  shanty,  rude  though  it  was,  must 
have  looked  decidedly  cheerful  to  Mr.  Simpson  when, 
after  a  tramp  of  more  than  an  hour,  a  goodly  portion 
of  which  time  had  been  spent  facing  the  northeast  gale, 
he  opened  the  door  to  see  his  son  and  Zenas  presenting 
a  picture  of  comfort. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  115 

"It's  fortunate  for  all  three  of  us  that  I  remem- 
bered to  bring  over  the  stove,"  he  said,  divesting  him- 
self of  a  goodly  portion  of  his  wet  garments  and  hang- 
ing them  where  they  would  be  most  likely  to  dry  in  a 
short  time,  "else  we  should  have  had  to  make  our  head- 
quarters in  the  farm-house,  which  just  at  present  I  am 
free  to  confess  would  not  be  pleasant." 

"Oilskins  are  needed  about  as  bad  as  a  stove," 
Zenas  said  with  a  laugh.  "The  idea  of  my  startin'  off 
for  a  summer's  work,  an'  not  takin'  into  consideration 
the  fact  that  I'd  likely  be  out  of  doors  a  good  many 
days  when  it  rained." 

"A  soaking  won't  hurt  us  to-day,  since  we've  a  place 
like  this  in  which  to  dry  off.  Now  I'm  going  to  give 
you  a  chance  to  see  how  heavy  this  gale  really  is,"  Mr. 
Simpson  said  in  a  tone  which  caused  his  hearers  to  be- 
lieve there  was  something  of  importance  on  his  mind. 

"What's  the  matter,  father?  Have  you  found  any- 
thing else  that  appears  to  be  wrong?" 

"There's  a  small  schooner  of  not  more  than  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  tons  hove-to  off  the  southerly  end  of  this 
island,  and  I  can't  understand  why  she's  apparently 
riding  out  the  storm  there  instead  of  coming  into  the 
cove.  I  want  Zenas  to  look  at  her.  Don't  think  that 
I  am  distressing  myself  too  much  about  what  John  Ed 
Bingham  may  be  able  to  do ;  but  when  I  saw  that  craft 
where  there  was  no  good  reason,  from  a  seaman's 
point  of  view,  for  her  remaining,  the  thought  came 
into  my  mind  that  possibly  Bingham  might  be  on 
board,  and  was  intending  to  run  into  the  cove  to- 
night." 


n6  THE  WIRfeLESS  STATION 

"That's  pretty  far  fetched  for  a  guess,"  Zenas  re- 
plied thoughtfully.  "I'm  willin'  to  agree  that  John 
Ed  will  bear  watchin'  even  when  he's  asleep;  but  it 
don't  strike  me  that  he's  goin'  to  make  any  great 
amount  of  money  tryin'  to  catch  them  'ere  foxes, 
'cause  they  won't  be  caught." 

"It  is  possible  to  shoot  them,"  Mr.  Simpson  sug- 
gested. 

"Yes,  but  in  order  to  do  that  you're  bound  to  get  a 
sight  of  the  creeters  first,  an'  though  they  haven't  been 
on  this  'ere  island  very  long,  I'll  venture  to  say  they've 
found,  or  made,  holes  for  themselves  long  before  this. 
You  don't  catch  a  fox  facing  a  northeast  gale  when 
he's  got  his  two  forepaws  to  dig  with." 

"It's  more  likely  that  it  was  John  Ed  Bingham  who 
came  ashore  Monday  night,"  Paul  interrupted.  "He 
threatened  to  do  mischief,  and  was  headed  for  this 
island  when  I  refused  him  a  tow,  therefore  I  am  be- 
lieving it  was  his  footprints  we  saw  in  the  sand." 

"If  that  is  the  case,"  Mr.  Simpson  said  half  to  him- 
self, "and  I'm  inclined  to  believe  you  are  correct,  my 
son,  then  we  have  good  reason  for  believing  that  Mr. 
Downs  and  Bingham  have  more  dealings  with  each 
other  than  is  agreeable  to  me.  However,  regarding 
that  we  shall  probably  know  more  later.  It  is  our  busi- 
ness to  keep  an  eye  on  the  fishing  schooner,  and  the 
sooner  you  take  a  look  at  her,  Zenas,  the  quicker  you 
will  be  able  to  dry  your  clothing." 

Gushing  went  out  into  the  storm  as  cheerfully  as  if 
bent  on  pleasure,  and  Paul  asked  curiously  what  his 
father  intended  to  do  regarding  the  Downs  family. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  117 

'That's  a  question  I  can't  answer  just  at  present.  I 
am  convinced  that  they  have  neglected  the  work,  and 
yet  to  turn  them  away,  as  I  have  the  right,  since  they 
do  not  own  the  buildings  here,  would  be  to  make  three 
enemies,  who,  knowing  the  island  so  well,  would  be 
able  to  do  more  harm  to  the  foxes  than  any  others. 
Zenas  is  to  remain  with  you ;  that  much  I  have  settled 
on,  and  what  more  is  to  be  done  in  the  way  of  making 
a  change  we  will  decide  later." 

"Are  you  troubled  because  that  fishing  schooner  is 
laying  to  off  the  island?"  Paul  asked  after  a  long 
pause,  and  his  father  replied  promptly : 

"I  am  indeed,  although  there  may  be  good  reasons 
for  her  remaining  at  sea  instead  of  coming  into  the 
cove.  Yet,"  he  added,  as  if  simply  giving  words  to 
his  thoughts,  "it  doesn't  seem  probable  that  any  one 
who  had  it  in  mind  to  poach  on  this  island  would  begin 
operations  so  soon.  I  question  if  half  a  dozen  men 
beating  through  the  thicket  could  come  upon  one  of 
the  animals  while  they  are  so  wild." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  fell  silent,  as  if  in  deep  thought, 
and  no  word  was  spoken  for  half  an  hour  or  more, 
when  he  suddenly  said : 

"As  soon  as  this  storm  clears  away  you  are  to  take 
the  power  dory  and  run  over  to  Seaview  to  get  spare 
fittings  for  the  Hampton  boat,  as  well  as  oilskins,  and 
anything  else  which  you  may  think  of  that  will  be 
needed.  I  wish  I  could  make  out  what  motive 
prompted  the  disabling  of  tjie  big  craft." 

"It  seemed  to  me,  after  having  seen  the  footprints 
on  the  sand,  that  John  Ed  Bingham  had  done  it,  in- 


n8  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

tending  to  come  ashore  as  he  afterward  did,  in  order 
to  prevent  our  chasing  him." 

"We  will  hope  that  is  the  answer  to  the  question," 
Mr.  Simpson  said  thoughtfully,  "but " 

"Is  it  in  your  mind  that  Mr.  Downs  or  his  sons  had 
anything  to  do  with  the  mischief?"  Paul  asked  when 
his  father,  failing  to  finish  the  sentence,  remained 
silent. 

"I  cannot  say,  my  son.  It  was  done  for  some  pur- 
pose rather  than  a  simple  desire  to  destroy  property, 
and  we  are  bound  to  solve  the  mystery  if  it  so  be  it  is 
possible." 

The  entrance  of  Zenas  put  an  end  to  further  con- 
versation for  the  time  being,  and  his  report  was  not 
calculated  to  reassure  the  man  who  had  invested  such 
a  large  amount  of  money  in  silver  foxes. 

"The  craft  may  be  a  fisherman;  but  she  don't  look 
like  it  to  my  eye,"  Zenas  said  as  he  took  off  his  wet 
coat,  filled  the  stove  with  wood,  and  stood  where  he 
could  receive  the  full  benefit  of  the  heat  "First  an' 
foremost  she's  only  got  one  boat,  an'  that  a  ten-foot 
dory.  As  nigh  as  I  could  make  out,  her  decks  are 
clean,  though  of  course  if  she's  been  fishin'  everything 
would  be  below  when  this  'ere  storm  broke;  but  why 
should  a  sailor  heave-to  under  the  lee  of  this  island, 
when  he  can  run  into  the  cove  an'  anchor?" 

"Perhaps  he  doesn't  know  there  is  a  harbor  here," 
Paul  suggested,  and  Zenas  replied  sharply : 

"I'll  be  bound  he's  no  stranger,  hangin'  'round  so 
far  out  to  sea.  This  'ere  storm  has  been  brewin'  four 
an'  twenty  hours,  an'  he'd  have  been  a  blind  man  who 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  119 

couldn't  see  that  it  was  time  to  make  for  port  yester- 
day afternoon.  I'm  willing  to  bet  a  big  apple  that 
within  an  hour  after  sundown  he'll  be  crawlin'  up  to 
the  cove." 

"There's  nothing  to  prevent  his  doing  so  now,  ex- 
cept that  he  doesn't  want  us  to  recognize  whoever  may 
be  on  board,"  Mr.  Simpson  suggested. 

It  was  a  waste  of  time  to  speculate  as  to  why  the 
schooner  remained  outside  when  she  could  have  made 
a  harbor,  and  even  though  they  had  been  disposed  to 
continue  the  profitless  conversation,  there  was  no 
further  opportunity  to  do  so  privately,  because  at  that 
moment  Farmer  Downs  and  Sam  entered. 

The  shanty  had  not  been  built  to  accommodate  so 
many  visitors,  and  once  they  were  inside  it  really 
seemed  to  Paul  as  if  it  was  not  possible  for  any  of  them 
to  turn  around  save  by  brute  force. 

"I  allow  you've  seen  that  'ere  schooner  what's 
hove-to  down  here  to  the  suthard?"  Mr.  Downs  be- 
gan by  way  of  opening  the  conversation,  and  Mr. 
Simpson  nodded  in  the  affirmative.  "I  allow  her 
skipper  is  afraid  to  go  inter  the  cove." 

"Why?"  Paul's  father  asked  sharply. 

"Cause  I've  let  it  be  known  that  you'd  set  your  foot 
agin  anybody  landin'  on  this  'ere  island." 

"That  wouldn't  prevent  a  vessel  from  making  har- 
bor here  in  a  gale."  . 

"Right  you  are;  but  some  of  these  'ere  fishermen 
are  kind'er  touchy,  an'  when  you  let  it  be  known  that 
we  wouldn't  allow  visitors,  they've  got  their  backs  up, 
I  s'pose." 


120  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Then  that  schooner  is  a  fisherman,  eh?"  Zenas 
asked,  and  Mr.  Downs  replied  with  another  question : 

"What  else  could  she  be?" 

"Well,  I  s'pose  she  might  be  a  coaster,  or  almost 
anything  them  as  owned  her  pleased." 

"She's  a  fisherman  all  right,"  Sam  interrupted 
with  an  air  of  wisdom,  and  turning  to  Paul,  he  asked 
in  a  low  tone,  "Have  you  been  workin'  the  contraption 
this  forenoon?" 

"There  is  no  need  of  it  now  that  father's  here,  and 
however  much  I  might  want  to  send  a  message,  it 
would  be  impossible  until  Ned  was  in  the  station." 

"It  kind'er  begins  to  look  as  though  the  thing 
worked,  don't  it,  else  your  father  jest  happened  to 
come  across  here?" 

"Put  it  whichever  way  you  please,"  Paul  replied 
impatiently.  "I  don't  care  whether  you  believe  it 
works  or  not,  so  long  as  I'm  satisfied." 

Then  Sam  became  greatly  interested  in  the  appara- 
tus; asked  many  questions  concerning  the  part  which 
this  or  that  wire  performed,  Paul  answering  briefly 
but  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  meanwhile  Farmer 
Downs,  apparently  ceasing  to  have  any  further  interest 
in  the  schooner,  was  giving  Mr.  Simpson  the  benefit 
of  his  views  regarding  the  best  method  of  domesticat- 
ing foxes. 

It  was  evident  to  Paul,  who  strove  at  the  same  time 
to  gather  what  was  being  said  by  his  elders  and  reply 
to  Sam's  sometimes  foolish  questions,  that  the  farmer 
was  bent  on  making  himself  agreeable  to  his  employer 
in  order,  as  the  lad  believed,  to  efface  any  unpleasant 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  121 

memories  of  the  neglect  of  duty  during  the  night 
previous. 

Nothing  of  particular  importance  or  interest  was 
said,  although  the  visitors  remained  until  the  horn 
sounded  for  dinner,  and  then  all  repaired  to  the  farm- 
house. 

After  the  meal  was  at  an  end  Ernest  went  to  the 
shanty  with  Mr.  Simpson,  Zenas  and  Paul,  and  at  no 
time  during  the  afternoon  were  the  three  alone. 

Twice  Zenas  went  out  to  see  if  the  schooner  re- 
mained in  the  same  relative  position,  and  returned  with 
the  information  that  she  was  still  hove-to  but  drifting 
so  rapidly  to  the  southward  as  to  be  lost  to  view  at 
times  amid  the  driving  rain. 

Not  until  the  evening  meal  had  been  eaten  was  any- 
thing said  concerning  the  work  of  the  night,  and  then 
Sam  asked  Mr.  Simpson  timidly  if  it  was  expected  that 
he  and  Ernest  were  to  patrol  the  island  while  the  storm 
was  raging  so  furiously. 

"Because  of  failing  to  find  you  when  I  landed,  my 
belief  is  that  you  have  not  been  living  up  to  the  agree- 
ment, so  far  as  keeping  watch  is  concerned,  therefore 
until  I  return  to  Seaview  you  may  do  as  you  choose 
during  the  hours  of  darkness." 

"Surely  you  are  not  countin'  on  standin'  watch 
while  sich  a  gale  as  this  is  ragin'  ?"  Mrs.  Downs  asked, 
and  Mr.  Simpson  avoided  a  direct  reply  by  saying : 

"It  hardly  seems  necessary." 

"An'  you'll  sleep  here,  of  course,  all  hands  of  you," 
the  good  woman  continued.  "You  can  have  our  spare 
room,  the  same  as  when  you  were  here  before." 


122  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"One  or  more  of  us  will  probably  use  it,  Mrs. 
Downs;  but  it  is  possible  that  we  shall  not  go  to  bed 
until  late,  therefore  you  may  kindly  leave  the  door  un- 
locked." 

"Wa'al,  I  reckon  we  shall,"  Mr.  Downs  replied  with 
a  hearty  laugh,  "seein's  how  we  ain't  in  the  habit  of 
lockin'  up  here  nights,  where  there's  nobody  to  break 
in,  an'  nothin'  to  steal  if  so  be  robbers  were  prowlin' 
'round.  Come  in  whenever  you  get  ready,  Mr.  Simp- 
son, an'  mother'll  leave  a  lamp  burning  for  you." 

Because  of  the  rain,  which  was  now  descending 
more  furiously  than  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  day, 
Paul's  father  borrowed  from  the  Downs  family  suits 
of  oilskins  for  himself,  his  son  and  Zenas,  and  thus 
protected  against  the  weather  the  three  started  toward 
the  shanty;  but  after  having  walked  fifty  yards  or 
more  Mr.  Simpson  halted  as  he  said : 

"Now,  then,  Zenas,  go  down  to  the  southerly  end  of 
the  island  and  see  if  you  can  make  out  whether  the 
schooner  remains  there.  She  will,  of  course,  have  a 
riding  light  out.  Then  come  back  to  the  cove,  where 
you  will  find  me  near  the  Downs  dory.  I'll  turn  her 
over  to  make  a  shelter.  You  are  to  go  to  the  station, 
Paul,  and  try  to  get  into  communication  with  Ned.  If 
you  succeed,  ask  him  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  whether 
any  strange  schooner  has  put  out  from  Seaview  this 
morning." 

Paul  did  as  he  was  commanded,  but  without  antici- 
pating any  result;  therefore  was  he  most  agreeably 
surprised  on  arriving  to  receive  a  reply  immediately 
after  sending  out  his  call. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  123 

"I  have  been  here  at  the  station  waiting  for  you 
since  five  o'clock,"  Ned  telegraphed.  "Is  anything 
going  wrong?" 

"Father  and  Zenas  got  ashore  last  night  with- 
out being  seen,  and  the  Downses  are  in  a  fine  state 
of  anxiety,  most  likely  fearing  they  will  be  dis- 
charged," Paul  wrote  hurriedly.  "Father  wants  to 
know  if  any  schooner  left  Seaview  this  morn- 
ing?" 

"What  has  he  got  on  his  mind?"  Ned  asked. 

"There  is  a  small  craft  hove-to  off  the  southerly  end 
of  the  island,  and  we  can't  understand  why  she's 
there." 

"I'll  try  and  find  out.  When  will  you  be  in  the  sta- 
tion again?" 

"All  the  evening.     Call  any  time." 

"O.  K."  came  the  reply,  and  then  the  clicking  of 
the  instrument  ceased,  Paul  understanding  that  his 
friend  had  gone  out  to  make  an  effort  at  getting  the 
desired  information. 

During  more  than  an  hour  Paul  remained  alone  in 
the  shanty,  hearing  only  the  whistling  of  the  wind 
amid  the  apparatus,  and  the  downpour  of  rain  upon 
the  roof  of  the  rude  structure,  and  then  came  the  sig- 
nal for  which  he  had  been  listening : 

"Have  you  learned  anything?"  he  ticked  off  as  soon 
as  Ned  ceased  calling  and  was  ready  to  receive. 

"Captain  Tobi  Thompson  says  that  last  evening, 
after  your  father  left,  a  small  fore-and-aft  schooner  put 
in;  two  strangers  came  ashore  to  Mansfield's  store, 
asked  about  the  fox  farm  and  your  father.  Schooner 


124  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

was  here  at  ten  o'clock  last  night,  but  must  have  sailed 
before  daylight  this  morning.  Anything  more?" 

"That's  all  father  wanted  to  know  just  now.  Am 
coming  over  after  spare  fittings  for  the  Hampton  boat 
when  storm  clears  away." 

"I  shall  be  in  the  station  to-morrow  seven  A.M." 
Ned  answered,  and  Paul  gave  the  signal  of  good- 
night, after  which  he  switched  off  his  instrument,  shut 
down  the  engine,  and  made  snug  until  the  time  came 
when  he  might  call  up  his  friend  again. 

Then  he  waited,  expecting  each  moment  his  father 
would  return,  until  to  his  surprise,  on  looking  at  his 
watch,  he  found  that  it  was  nearly  ten  o'clock. 

Zenas  and  Mr.  Simpson  had  been  out  in  the  raging 
storm  nearly  four  hours,  and  it  seemed  to  the  lad  cer- 
tain that  something  of  importance  must  have  occurred, 
else  they  would  have  taken  refuge  in  the  shanty  long 
before  this,  for  it  was  not  a  night  one  would  cheerfully 
select  for  a  stroll  on  Barren  island. 

His  first  impulse  was  to  go  in  search  of  them,  and 
this  desire  came  upon  him  so  strongly  that  despite  the 
fact  he  had  been  ordered  to  remain  at  the  station,  he 
set  off  at  a  rapid  pace  in  the  direction  of  the  cove, 
stumbling  now  and  then  over  the  loose  rocks  in  the 
path,  and  again  nearly  falling  headlong  when  the  furi- 
ous blasts  forced  him  a  few  paces  out  of  the  beaten 
track. 

It  was  a  short  but  laborious  journey,  and  he  was 
thoroughly  weary  when,  after  battling  against  the  ele- 
ments twenty  minutes  or  more,  he  came  upon  the  over- 
turned dory  and  called  his  father  by  name. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  125 

"What  has  brought  you  out  here?"  Mr.  Simpson 
asked  in  a  low  tone.  "I  thought  you  were  to  stay  at 
the  station." 

"Ned  has  just  sent  a  reply  to  your  inquiry,"  Paul 
replied  as  he  crawled  beneath  the  dory  to  shelter  him- 
self from  the  wind  and  rain,  and  then  he  repeated  what 
had  come  to  him  by  wireless. 

"The  schooner  which  has  been  hove-to  is  now 
standing  up  evidently  counting  to  come  into  the  cove, 
and  we  intend  to  find  out  why  she's  here,"  Mr.  Simp- 
son said  in  explanation.  "You  had  better  go 
to  the  farm-house  and  get  what  sleep  you  can,  or  else 
lie  down  in  the  station,  where  you'll  be  dry  and  com- 
fortable." 

"I  had  rather  stay  here,  sir,  if  you  don't  object." 

"Very  well ;  do  as  you  please.  It  won't  be  very  com- 
fortable, and  I  am  not  expecting  that  anything  of  an 
exciting  nature  will  happen." 

"If  it  don't  I'll  miss  my  guess,"  Zenas  said  grimly. 
"A  craft  doesn't  lay  hove-to  in  mid-ocean,  so  to  speak, 
all  day,  an'  then  crawl  up  to  land  after  dark,  unless 
there's  mischief  of  some  kind  brewin'." 

Paul  was  of  the  same  opinion,  and  therefore  re- 
solved to  remain  where  he  was  for  a  certain  time  at 
least. 

By  dint  of  questioning  Zenas  he  learned  that  the  lat- 
ter had,  while  patrolling  the  shore  at  the  southern  end 
of  the  island,  seen  a  light  on  board  a  craft  of  some 
kind,  which  he  believed  to  be  the  same  vessel  they  had 
watched  during  the  day,  and  after  a  certain  length  of 
time  became  convinced  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  mis- 


126  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

take  that  she  was  endeavoring  to  gain  harbor  in  the 
cove. 

"Of  course  I  can't  swear  that  the  schooner  what's 
off  here  now  is  the  same  we've  seen  since  noon;  but 
accordin'  to  my  figurin'  it's  odds  that  she  is,  and  I'm 
lookin'  to  see  quite  a  lively  time  before  mornin'." 

"Do  you  believe  John  Ed  Bingham  is  on  board  of 
her?"  Paul  asked  in  a  whisper,  and  Zenas  replied 
promptly : 

"I  ain't  botherin'  my  head  about  that  old  smuggler 
a  little  bit.  He  may  be  with  the  gang,  an'  then  agin  it's 
possible  he's  a  hundred  miles  off  by  this  time.  He's 
just  like  a  flea ;  you  think  you  can  put  your  finger  right 
on  him,  an'  he  ain't  there.  Whoever  is  aboard  the 
craft,  'cordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin',  is  comin'  here 
either  to  cook  up  a  plan  with  old  Downs,  or  else  to  see 
if  there's  any  show  of  gettin'  a  fox  pelt  that's  worth  a 
couple  of  hundred  dollars." 

"But  they  can't  expect  to  do  any  hunting  in  the 
night;  that  would  be  ridiculous." 

"I  don't  know  what  they're  expectin' ;  but  I've  set  it 
down  as  a  fact  that  our  business  is  to  keep  a  sharp  eye 
on  'em.  If  so  be  they're  only  disabled  sailormen  puttin' 
in  here  for  harbor,  why  there  won't  be  any  harm  done 
if  we  hang  'round  a  spell  longer." 

While  Zenas  and  Paul  had  been  conversing  Mr. 
Simpson  crept  out  from  beneath  the  shelter,  and  five 
minutes  later  he  returned,  saying  in  a  whisper  as  he 
forced  his  way  under  the  dory : 

"The  vessel  is  just  coming  into  the  cove.  Cease 
talking,  and  if  any  one  should  come  ashore,  we'll  fol- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  127 

low  them  without  exposing  ourselves  to  view,  if  pos- 
sible. There  is  even  a  chance  these  may  be  honest  fish- 
ermen, who  have  not  heard  that  visitors  are  forbidden 
the  island." 

"If  they  let  go  their  ground  tackle  with  a  rush,  I'll 
allow  there's  a  chance  they  may  be  honest;  but  we'll 
see  how  they  come  to  anchor,"  Zenas  replied,  crawling 
out  from  under  the  dory  until  he  could  have  as  fair  a 
view  of  the  cove  as  darkness  would  permit,  and  Paul, 
eager  to  see  all  that  might  be  happening,  followed  his 
example. 

Five  minutes  later  it  was  possible,  even  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  to  distinguish  the  outlines  of  a  ves- 
sel's spars  as  she  stood  in  until  nearly  abreast  where  the 
watchers  were  hiding,  and  then  noiselessly  as  a  shadow 
came  to  a  standstill. 

"They  have  taken  mighty  good  care  that  nobody 
should  hear  'em  let  go  the  anchor,"  Zenas  whispered, 
and  Paul's  heart  beat  wildly  with  excitement,  for  he 
fancied  that  now  was  come  the  time  when  poachers 
were  making  ready  to  work  mischief  on  Silver  Fox 
Farm. 

During  what  seemed  to  Paul  to  be  a  very  long  time 
no  sound  was  heard,  and  Zenas  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  craft  had  anchored  with  all  canvas,  save 
the  jib,  standing. 

"Looks  honest,  don't  it,  eh?"  he  whispered. 

Then  the  creaking  of  oars  could  be  heard  now  and 
then  even  amid  the  noises  of  the  tempest,  and  Mr. 
Simpson  gave  the  word  that  they  were  to  creep  out 
from  their  place  of  shelter,  crouching  low  upon  the 


128  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

sand  as  they  did  so  lest  their  bodies  should  be  seen 
against  the  sky. 

This  move  had  been  made  none  too  soon,  for  when 
he  was  ten  paces  from  the  dory,  creeping  toward  the 
head  of  the  cove,  it  was  possible  for  Paul  to  see  a  small 
boat  pulled  up  on  the  beach  by  three  men,  who,  after 
their  task  was  done,  at  once  hurried  away  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  farm-house. 

"We'll  follow  them,"  Mr.  Simpson  said,  and  there 
was  little  need  for  him  to  speak  in  a  whisper  because 
the  shrieking  of  the  tempest  would  have  drowned  any 
ordinary  noise. 

"Don't  you  think  it  would  be  a  good  idee  for  me  to 
stay  here?  You  and  Paul  can  do  the  followin'  an'  it 
don't  seem  to  me  well  that  we  lose  all  sight  of  what 
may  be  goin'  on  around  this  'ere  cove,"  Zenas  sug- 
gested. 

"Very  well,  stay  here.  Come  with  me,  Paul,"  and 
Mr.  Simpson  hurried  away  in  the  direction  taken  by 
the  visitors,  being  careful,  however,  not  to  get  so  near 
their  heels  that  there  could  be  any  danger  of  being 
seen. 

The  strangers  were  fully  two  hundred  feet  in  ad- 
vance of  Mr.  Simpson  and  Paul  when  they  arrived  at 
the  farm-house,  and  that  they  were  well  acquainted 
with  the  place  could  be  told  from  the  fact  that  instead 
of  making  any  effort  to  arouse  the  family,  who,  be- 
cause of  the  absence  of  lights,  were  apparently  asleep, 
they  entered  the  house  boldly  by  the  kitchen  door. 

The  building  stood,  as  has  been  said,  in  the  open, 
and  there  was  no  place  where  the  watchers  might 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  129 

screen  themselves  from  view,  save  just  inside  the  shed 
where  was  stowed  firewood.  This  they  did,  and  when 
thus  partially  hidden  Paul  whispered : 

"We  can't  hear  anything  that  may  be  said  in  the 
house  unless  we  creep  up  to  the  window." 

"That  we  will  do  after  they  have  lighted  the  lamp," 
his  father  replied,  and  the  two  stood  there  minute  after 
minute,  waiting  for  some  token  that  the  Downs  family 
were  astir,  but  seeing  nothing. 

No  lights  shone  from  the  window;  no  noise  could 
be  heard  from  inside  the  dwelling,  and  Paul  was  be- 
ginning to  ask  himself  whether  they  were  not  mistaken 
in  the  belief  that  three  men  had  entered  the  house, 
when  the  door  was  opened  swiftly  and  a  single  figure 
came  out. 

As  a  matter  of  course  it  was  not  possible  to  distin- 
guish the  features  of  this  person  who  had  come  so 
stealthily  from  Mr.  Downs's  dwelling;  but  it  could  be 
seen  that  he  disappeared  in  the  direction  of  the  cove, 
and  when  Paul  started  forward  as  if  to  follow  him,  his 
father  said,  laying  a  restraining  hand  upon  his  shoul- 
der: 

"We'll  wait  for  the  other  two,  lad.  If  that  fellow 
has  gone  down  to  the  boat  Zenas  can  give  us  an  account 
of  all  he  does." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A   QUESTION   OF  VERACITY 

As  a  matter  of  course  Paul  could  not  well  carry  on 
any  extended  conversation  with  his  father  while  they 
were  in  hiding  so  near  the  house;  but  he  was  burning 
with  the  desire  to  hear  what  guess  might  be  made  as  to 
the  reason  why  only  one  of  the  visitors  had  gone  away, 
and  also  why  the  Downs  family  failed  to  display  any 
signs  of  being  awake. 

The  house  remained  as  when  they  first  approached, 
with  not  a  thread  of  light  to  be  seen,  or  the  slightest 
noise  betokening  that  the  inmates  were  awake ;  yet  cer- 
tain it  was,  unless  both  Paul  and  his  father  had  been 
deceived  by  their  eyes,  that  three  men  had  entered  fully 
half  an  hour  before  the  first  took  his  departure. 

Paul  fancied  the  storm  was  subsiding.  It  seemed 
to  him  that  the  wind  no  longer  came  in  furious  gusts, 
and  that  the  rain  was  falling  in  less  volume,  yet,  even 
if  such  was  the  case,  the  gale  was  still  sufficiently  vi- 
olent to  cause  him  no  little  discomfort.  But  for  the 
protection  afforded  by  the  oilskins  borrowed  from  the 
Downs  family,  he  would  have  suffered  severely,  for  the 
shed  afforded  only  a  partial  shelter  from  the  wind,  and 
the  water  ran  in  tiny  streams  through  each  of  the  many 
crevices  in  the  roof. 

The  moments  passed,  as  it  appeared  to  Paul,  exceed- 
ingly slow,  and  yet  his  father  gave  no  token  of  impa- 
tience even  when  the  lad  was  positive  nearly  an  hour 

130 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  131 

had  elapsed  since  the  single  visitor  took  his  departure. 
Standing  like  a  statue  just  within  the  shadow  of  the 
opening  to  the  shed,  Mr.  Simpson  remained  with  his 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  seemingly  abandoned  house,  until 
Paul  ventured  to  ask : 

"How  much  longer  do  you  count  on  staying  here, 
sir?" 

"Until  we  can  learn  something  concerning  the  two 
visitors  who  are  yet  inside.  If  you  are  tired,  go  back 
to  Zenas;  you  will  most  likely  find  him  under  the 
dory." 

"But  you  might  need  me  here,  sir." 

"That  is  hardly  probable.  I  fancy  the  men  will  go 
aboard  the  schooner  directly  they  bring  the  visit  to  a 
close,  and  I  shall  do  no  more  than  follow.  There  isn't 
any  probability  they  will  attempt  to  molest  the  foxes 
in  the  darkness,  for  the  very  good  reason  that  the  ani- 
mals could  not  be  found." 

"Shall  we  wait  on  the  shore  for  you?" 

"Yes,  Zenas  must  do  so;  but  you  may  go  to  bed 
whenever  you  feel  so  disposed." 

"I  don't  count  on  losing  sight  of  whatever  may  be 
going  on  here  to-night,"  Paul  replied  grimly,  and  his 
father  added  with  something  very  like  mirth  in  his 
tones : 

"If  this  blackness  holds  you're  not  likely  to  see  very 
much,  no  matter  how  lively  matters  move.  Remember 
to  listen  carefully  while  walking  to  and  fro,  lest  you 
run  afoul  of  these  visitors." 

Paul  would  not  have  left  his  father  if  there  had  been 
any  show  of  life  in  the  Downs  home;  but  while  the 


I32-  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

house  remained  as  if  deserted  it  seemed  to  him  useless 
to  waste  time  watching  it. 

Moving  cautiously  in  accordance  with  his  father's 
instructions,  he  went  slowly  toward  the  shore  of  the 
cove,  being  obliged  almost  literally  to  "feel"  his  way, 
and  after  stumbling  about,  sometimes  on  the  path,  and 
again  floundering  among  the  rocks  and  sand,  he  came 
upon  the  overturned  dory. 

"Zenas,"  he  whispered,  as  he  bent  over  to  peer  be- 
neath the  boat,  and  Cushing's  head  immediately  ap- 
peared between  the  gunwale  and  the  sand. 

"Where's  your  father?" 

"Up  at  the  house  waiting  for  the  two  men  to  come 
out." 

"I'm  thinkin'  he'll  stay  there  quite  a  spell.  One  of 
'em  came  down  here  a  while  ago,  put  off  to  the 
schooner,  an'  she  has  left  the  harbor." 

"The  schooner  gone!"  Paul  cried  in  astonishment. 

"That's  what.  She  went  out  half  an  hour  ago,  an' 
I've  been  wonderin'  why  your  father  didn't  come  to  tell 
me  I  might  turn  in,  for  it's  a  dead  fact  that  the  other 
two  men  don't  count  on  leaving  here  this  night.  What 
have  you  seen  ?" 

"Nothing  after  the  three  men  went  into  the  house, 
nor  did  we  hear  the  slightest  sound  until  one  of  them 
came  out  and  disappeared  as  if  on  his  way  to  this  cove. 
There  hasn't  been  a  light  in  the  building." 

"Did  the  men  have  much  trouble  gettin'  in?" 

"They  went  in  the  kitchen  door,  as  if  it  was  their 
own  home.  So  far  as  we  could  say,  not  a  member  of 
the  Downs  family  awakened." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  133 

"Is  that  so?''  Zenas  said  half  to  himself.  "Old 
friends,  eh,  an'  took  the  trouble  to  lay  hove-to  in  a 
livin'  gale  all  day  for  the  sake  of  comin'  here  after 
dark  when  they  wouldn't  disturb  anybody !  Looks  as 
if  the  whole  thing  had  been  cooked  an'  dried,  eh?  It 
wouldn't  surprise  me  a  little  bit  if  the  fellow  whom  you 
say  landed  here  Monday  night  came  in  order  to  make 
arrangements  for  this  same  visit.  What's  your  father 
goin'  to  do  now  ?" 

"He  is  watching  for  the  two  men  to  come  out." 

"I  reckon  we  may  as  well  go  up  an'  tell  him  it's  time 
to  knock  off  work.  Them  men  won't  show  themselves 
now  the  schooner's  gone  —  That  is,  not  for  quite  a 
spell,  an'  it's  up  to  us  to  say  how  soon  that  shall  be. 
Come  on;  we'll  talk  it  over  when  we're  snug  in  the 
shanty." 

Paul  was  so  perplexed  and  bewildered  at  learning 
the  schooner  had  left  port,  that  he  could  make  no  pro- 
test even  though  it  seemed  to  him  that  his  father's  or- 
ders should  be  obeyed  even  to  the  extent  of  remaining 
under  the  overturned  dory  all  night.  He  meekly  fol- 
lowed Zenas,  when  that  young  man  came  boldly  out 
from  the  place  of  shelter  and  walked  toward  the  house 
as  if  he  was  the  only  person  on  Barren  island. 

"Be  careful  you  don't  come  upon  the  men,  and  thus 
let  them  know  that  we've  been  on  watch,"  he  cautioned, 
and  Zenas  laughed  aloud  as  he  said : 

"I'll  eat  my  head  an'  yours,  too,  if  the  visitors  an* 
the  Downs  family  ain't  snorin'  their  level  best  this  very 
minute.  They're  takin'  it  easy,  an'  we're  gettin'  all 
the  tough  part  of  the  work." 


134  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"But  why  does  Mr.  Downs  allow  them  to  stay,  when 
he  knows  that  father  refuses  to  let  any  one  even  come 
ashore  for  a  few  minutes?"  Paul  asked  in  bewilder- 
ment. 

"I  reckon  that's  somethin'  your  father  is  bound  to 
find  out  before  we're  many  hours  older,  'less  he's 
willin'  to  see  the  fox  business  go  to  everlastin'  smash. 
Now  we'll  creep  up  on  the  shed  kind'er  soft,  for  there's 
jest  a  chance,  in  spite  of  my  belief,  that  old  Daniel  has 
got  a  longer  head  than  I've  given  him  the  credit  of 
havin'." 

Without  making  more  noise  than  was  drowned  by 
the  whistling  of  the  wind  and  the  roaring  of  the  surf, 
the  two  approached  the  shed  until  Mr.  Simpson 
stepped  out  into  view,  leading  them  at  a  distance 
from  the  building  that  he  might  ask  in  an  angry  tone, 
without  danger  of  being  overheard  by  those  in  the 
house : 

"Why  have  you  left  your  post,  Zenas?" 

"  'Cause  there's  nothin'  to  watch.  The  schooner 
put  to  sea  nigh  an  hour  ago,  after  one  of  the  men  went 
on  board,  an'  I'm  allowin'  that  you'll  be  coolin'  your 
heels  for  nothin'  if  you  stay  here  keepin'  an  eye  on  the 
old  shack.  Daniel  Downs  is  a  little  ahead  of  us  in  this 
'ere  deal,  though  the  odds  are  agin  his  pullin'  out 
'cordin'  to  schedule." 

Mr.  Simpson  remained  silent  and  motionless  a  full 
minute,  and  then,  telling  Zenas  and  Paul  to  follow  him, 
he  led  the  way  to  the  shanty. 

After  having  been  exposed  to  the  storm  so  long,  the 
little  hut  presented  a  most  homely  appearance  when 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  135 

a  fire  had  been  built  in  the  stove  and  the  lantern 
lighted ;  but  Mr.  Simpson  was  not  in  the  humor  to  en- 
joy it. 

"You  two  are  to  stay  here.  If  I  fail  to  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance when  you  go  to  breakfast  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  any  one  asks  for  me,  say  that  I  declared  my 
intention  of  remaining  in  bed  a  long  while.  Do  not 
linger  around  the  farm-house;  but  having  had  breakfast 
come  directly  back  here,  and  get  in  communication 
with  Ned  Bartlett  to  learn  if  he  has  heard  anything 
regarding  the  strange  schooner." 

"Where  are  you  going,  father?"  Paul  asked,  puzzled 
to  understand  why  such  detailed  instructions  should 
be  given. 

"I  intend  to  sleep  in  the  farm-house ;  but  it  isn't  prob- 
able that  I  shall  get  up  early  enough  to  breakfast  with 
the  family.  You  may  bring  over  here  something  in 
the  way  of  food,  in  case  I  should  be  hungry  before 
dinner-time." 

Then,  without  waiting  for  further  questions,  Mr. 
Simpson  went  out  into  the  storm  and  the  darkness  once 
more,  and  Paul  turned  to  Zenas  with  an  expression  of 
bewilderment  on  his  face. 

"What  benefit  will  it  be  to  sleep  in  the  farm-house? 
I  suppose,  though,  that  it'll  be  more  comfortable  to 
have  a  whole  bed  to  himself  than  pack  into  my  bunk 
with  you  and  me." 

"I'm  allowin'  he  ain't  thinkin'  very  much  of  his  own 
comfort  jest  at  this  time,"  Zenas  replied  with  a  purring 
laugh  as  he  took  off  his  wet  garments  to  hang  them  in 
front  of  the  fire,  and  with  a  blanket  around  his  shoul- 


136  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

ders  in  the  stead  of  a  dressing  gown,  proceeded  to  fill 
and  light  his  pipe. 

"But  what  good  will  it  do  for  him  to  sleep  there?" 
Paul  asked  in  perplexity. 

"That  is  as  may  be.  'Cordin'  to  the  way  I  look  at  it, 
he  figgers  that  the  house  is  so  small  they'll  have 
trouble  in  hidin'  two  men  any  great  while,  an'  by  pre- 
tendin'  to  be  sleepin'  in  bed  he  may  hear  somethin' 
that'll  be  to  his  advantage.  Of  course  there's  the 
chance  that  nothin'  will  come  of  it ;  but  I  can't  see  how 
he  could -do  anythin'  different,  seein's  he's  bound  to 
look  after  them  'ere  foxes." 

"I  wish  he  had  never  gone  into  the  business,  or,  if 
he  couldn't  keep  out  of  it,  that  he'd  hired  people  who 
were  more  honest  than  the  Downs  family  appear  to 
be,"  Paul  said  with  a  sigh,  and  Zenas  added,  as  if  the 
idea  afforded  him  considerable  amusement : 

"More  honest  than  they  appear  to  be!  Why,  lad, 
from  what  little  I've  seen  I  can  take  my  solemn  'davy 
that  the  old  man  an'  his  sons  are  so  crooked  they 
couldn't  sleep  comfortably  in  a  straight  bed.  I'm  al- 
lowin'  that  at  first  they  counted  to  play  fair ;  but  some- 
body of  the  same  kidney  as  John  Ed  Bingham,  if  it 
wasn't  the  old  scoundrel  himself,  has  got  after  'em 
with  a  scheme  to  make  money  quick.  It  strikes  me  that 
two  or  three  hundred  dollars  would  buy  Daniel  mighty 
easy.  He's  sich  a  thick  head  that  he  wouldn't  stop  to 
figger  how  much  might  come  to  him  an'  his  family  in 
the  way  of  wages  before  a  crop  of  pelts  could  be  har- 
vested; but  would  only  think  of  the  big  pile  to  be 
hauled  in  if  he  turned  traitor.  But  jest  you  wait,  lad. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  137 

It'll  be  a  long  day  before  either  he  or  his  cronies  can 
get  hold  of  them  'ere  creeters,  an'  twixt  now  and  then 
we  ought'er  be  able  to  lay  him  by  the  heels." 

It  really  seemed  to  Paul  as  if  Zenas  was  thoroughly 
well  pleased  because  danger  threatened  the  fox  farm- 
ing. He  smoked  vigorously,  pausing  now  and  then 
to  laugh  in  a  purring  sort  of  way,  or  to  strike  his 
knee  a  resounding  blow  as  if  he  had  suddenly  hit 
upon  some  means  of  outwitting  Mr.  Downs  and  his 
visitors. 

"Any  one  might  think  you  were  well  pleased  because 
there  is  a  chance  that  father  may  lose  his  investment 
here,"  Paul  said  after  he  had  undressed  and  crawled 
between  the  blankets,  preparatory  to  sleeping. 

"It  ain't  exactly  that  way,  lad.  I'm  kind'er  tickled 
'cause  it  looks  as  if  we  might  have  considerable  excite- 
ment. When  I  hired  out  to  your  father  the  only 
trouble  in  my  mind  was  that  it  would  be  mortally  dull, 
knockin'  'round  this  forsaken  place  day  after  day  an' 
night  after  night;  but  if  old  Daniel  keeps  on  tryin'  to 
play  funny  games,  I'm  allowin'  we'll  pass  the  time  in 
fair  shape.  Why  don't  you  go  to  sleep?" 

"Ain't  you  coming  to  bed  ?" 

"Not  for  quite  a  spell;  I've  got  to  chew  this  'ere 
thing  over  a  while,  so's  to  get  my  bearin's;  but  once 
that  has  been  done,  I'm  the  biggest  chump  that  ever 
stepped  foot  in  Seaview  if  Daniel  Downs  an'  his  pre- 
cious boys  can  get  the  best  of  me." 

Despite  the  excitement  under  which  he  was  natu- 
rally laboring,  Paul's  eyes  closed  in  slumber  some  time 
before  Zenas  had  finished  "chewing  the  matter  over," 


138  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

and  it  was  not  until  the  sun  had  risen  next  morning 
that  he  again  became  conscious  of  his  surroundings. 

Then  Zenas  shook  him  into  wakefulness  with  the 
announcement : 

''It  is  past  six,  lad,  an'  the  horn  has  sounded  twice 
to  let  us  know  breakfast's  ready.  I  kind'er  hated  to 
rouse  you,  seein's  how  you  was  reelin'  it  off  so  hearty- 
like;  but  we've  got  to  show  up,  whether  we're  hungry 
or  not,  to  prevent  'em  from  routin'  your  father  out." 

Paul  arose  from  the  bunk,  stretched  himself  sleepily, 
and  Zenas  opened  the  door  as  a  means  of  banishing 
any  further  desire  for  slumber  from  his  eyes. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly,  the  breeze  hardly 
strong  enough  to  raise  a  feather,  and  the  dancing  sea 
sparkled  and  shone  in  the  golden  light  as  if  it  had 
never  raised  its  myriad  heads  against  the  rocky  coast 
of  Barren  island. 

"My,  but  it's  a  fine  day!"  Paul  cried  as,  removing 
his  clothing,  he  ran  to  the  head  of  Swallow-Tailed 
cove  for  a  sea  bath. 

Ten  minutes  later  he  had  finished  his  salt-water 
toilet,  and  was  asking  Zenas  if  anything  unusual  had 
occurred  after  he  fell  asleep. 

"I  don't  allow  that  a  thing  went  wrong  from  the 
time  that  'ere  schooner  left  the  cove.  'Long  'bout  mid- 
night I  took  a  turn  'round,  goin'  as  far  as  the  farm- 
house; but  everythin'  was  quiet.  The  storm  petered 
out  'bout  then,  an'  before  I'd  fell  asleep  the  stars  were 
shinin'.  I'd  like  to  know  if  your  father  got  on  the 
track  of  any  funny  business." 

"We  shall  soon  know,  for  he  will  surely  show  him- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  139 

self  before  dinner-time.  Let's  hurry  down  to  the 
house  for  breakfast.  I  must  be  back  here  when  Ned 
calls  me  at  seven." 

Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  had  broken  their  fast  when 
Paul  and  Zenas  arrived  at  the  house,  as  was  learned 
from  Mrs.  Downs,  who  added,  as  she  answered  their 
questions  concerning  the  remainder  of  her  family: 

"I've  been  wonderin'  if  I  hadn't  better  wake  your 
father.  Sam  looked  inter  the  spare  room,  an'  said  he 
'peared  to  be  asleep ;  but  it  seems  a  pity  for  him  to  lose 
his  breakfast." 

"He  was  very  tired  when  he  left  the  shanty,  and 
said  he  didn't  intend  to  get  up  until  nearly  noon,  there- 
fore you  had  better  leave  him  alone,"  Paul  replied,  and 
it  was  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue  to  ask  if  Mrs.  Downs 
had  heard  any  disturbance  during  the  night ;  but,  fortu- 
nately, he  checked  himself  before  the  words  were  ut- 
tered. 

"Father  an'  the  boys  have  gone  out  to  catch  fish  for 
the  foxes,"  the  good  woman  said  after  a  long  pause, 
during  which  she  had  heaped  the  plates  of  her  guests 
so  high  with  food  that  there  appeared  to  be  an  ample 
supply  for  at  least  three  meals.  "In  case  your  father 
should  want  'em  after  he  gets  up,  I  reckon  they  can  be 
found  in  the  cove;  that's  a  master  place  for  cunners 
at  flood  tide." 

To  this  neither  Paul  nor  Zenas  made  any  reply,  and 
Mrs.  Downs  asked  a  moment  later,  while  an  expression 
of  anxiety  came  over  her  face: 

"Do  you  know  whether  your  father  counts  on  goin' 
back  to  Seaview  to-day?" 


140  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"He  hasn't  told  us;  but  I  believe  he  will  wait  here 
until  I  have  been  over  to  get  the  fittings  that  are 
needed  to  put  the  Hampton  boat  into  commission 
again,"  Paul  replied  as  he  rose  from  the  table,  his 
hunger  satisfied,  and  this  time  there  could  be  no  ques- 
tion but  that  the  good  woman  looked  disturbed  in 
mind. 

"It  don't  suit  her  to  have  your  father  hangin'  'round 
here,"  Zenas  said  when  he  and  Paul  were  returning  to 
the  station.  "It  ain't  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to 
keep  two  men  hidden  in  that  small  house,  an'  it  stands 
to  reason  old  Daniel  wouldn't  dare  let  them  out  while 
the  boss  is  here." 

"It's  hard  to  persuade  myself  I  didn't  dream  all  that 
took  place  last  night,"  Paul  said  thoughtfully.  "It 
doesn't  seem  possible  Mr.  Downs  would  dare  to  play 
such  a  trick,  knowing  what  the  consequences  would  be 
if  he  was  discovered." 

"I  reckon  he  didn't  stop  to  think  of  that  part  of  the 
business  when  he  agreed  to  whatever  plan  is  on  foot," 
and  Zenas  added  with  a  laugh,  "It  don't  take  me  very 
long  to  make  up  my  mind  that  what  went  on  here 
last  night  was  no  dream,  for  I'm  feelin'  as  if 
I'd  been  soaked.  It  must  be  nigh  to  seven  o'clock, 
eh?" 

"It  lacks  fifteen  minutes,"  Paul  said,  after  looking 
at  his  watch.  "We  may  as  well  get  ready  for  business, 
although  I  don't  fancy  Ned  has  been  able  to  get  much 
information  for  us." 

When  the  apparatus  was  in  working  order  once 
more  Paul  sent  out  the  call  for  Ned,  and  within  a  few 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  141 

moments  of  the  hour  named  the  following  words  were 
clicked  off  in  the  shanty,  Zenas  standing  in  open- 
mouthed  astonishment,  for  this  was  the  first  exhibition 
of  wireless  telegraphy  he  had  ever  seen : 

"Captain  Tobi  Thompson  says  the  schooner  is  now 
in  the  harbor.  She  carried  away  her  topmast  in  the 
gale ;  must  stay  here  two  days  for  repairs." 

"I  am  coming  over  very  soon,"  Paul  replied,  Zenas 
watching  his  every  movement  closely  as  he  worked 
the  key. 

"Don't  fail  to  see  me,"  came  the  message  from  Ned. 

"O.  K.  If  you  can't  get  me  at  noon  you  will  know 
I  have  started." 

Then  came  the  good-by  from  the  Seaview  station, 
and  as  Paul  closed  the  trunk  containing  his  instru- 
ments, Zenas  said  with  a  long-drawn  sigh,  as  if  so 
much  of  mystery  wearied  him : 

"It  don't  seem  possible  that  you've  been  talkin'  with 
Ned  Bartlett  at  Seaview,  an'  I  can't  make  head  nor 
tail  of  the  whole  thing." 

"That's  what  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  say.  They 
are  not  yet  absolutely  certain  that  I  have  been  able  to 
send  or  receive  a  message,  because  there  are  no  wires 
connecting  the  two  instruments." 

"It  would  puzzle  a  wiser  man  than  any  of  them  are 
ever  likely  to  be ;  but  I'd  really  like  to  know  somethin' 
'bout  the  bloomin'  thing,  for  it's  the  darkest  kind  of  a 
twist  to  me." 

"We  haven't  anything  to  ,do  until  father  comes,  and 
if  you  care  to  listen  I'll  read  a  little  from  a  book  I've 
got,  which  I  brought  with  me  in  case  something  went 


142  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

wrong  that  I  couldn't  understand,  when  I'd  have  the 
solution  at  hand." 

"Go  ahead;  I'll  listen  as  long  as  you're  willin'  to 
read,"  and  Zenas  seated  himself  on  the  bunk  as  he  pro- 
ceeded leisurely  to  fill  his  pipe. 

"Here  is  something  which  may  give  you  an  idea  of 
how  the  clicking  of  the  key  can  be  heard  many  miles 
away,  even  as  you  hear  it  here,"  and  Paul  read,  "A 
type  of  wave  of  which  we  are  constantly  receiving 
impressions  through  our  ears,  but  which  is  more  diffi- 
cult to  analyze  than  the  ocean  wave,  is  the  sound-wave 
in  the  atmosphere.  Waves  of  sound  are  invisible,  and 
hence  the  difficulty  we  experience  in  becoming  fa- 
miliar with  their  forms,  speed  and  other  properties. 
We  learn  that  sound  in  air  is  a  disturbance  in  its 
density  and  pressure  which  moves  through  the  air  at  a 
definite  speed.  If  we  fire  a  pistol  in  the  air,  the  ex- 
plosion in  the  barrel  displaces  the  air,  or  compresses  it, 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  discharge.  The 
zone  of  compression  moves  off  into  surrounding  air 
with  substantially  the  same  speed  in  all  directions,  if 
the  air  is  calm,  and  is  followed  immediately  by  a  zone 
of  expended  air ;  just  as  a  hollow  or  depression  follows 
a  hump  or  elevation  in  an  ocean  wave." 

"Do  you  understand  the  idea  of  sound-waves  from 
what  I  have  read  ?"  Paul  asked  as  he  paused  to  look  at 
Zenas,  and  the  latter  replied  doubtfully: 

"I  can't  say  as  I've  got  the  whole  idee  dead  plain  in 
my  mind;  but  drive  ahead,  an'  perhaps  I'll  pick  up  a 
smatterin'  of  it." 

Then  Paul  continued  to  read,  selecting  paragraphs 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  143 

here  and  there  which  he  believed  would  convey  a  gen- 
eral idea  of  the  subject: 

"Air  is  a  material  fluid.  It  forms  an  ocean  on  the 
surface  of  this  earth,  and  we  live  at  or  near  the  bottom 
of  this  air-ocean.  It  is  generally  believed  that  all  space, 
including  the  interior  of  solid  bodies,  is  permeated  by 
an  immaterial  fluid  called  the  universal  ether.  The 
ether  is  just  as  invisible  as  the  air.  It  does  not  directly 
appeal  to  any  sense,  but  it  is  much  easier  to  assume 
its  presence  everywhere  than  to  deny  its  existence.  If 
we  take  a  vacuum-tube,  that  is  to  say,  a  sealed  glass 
tube  from  the  interior  of  which  the  air  has  been  almost 
entirely  removed,  it  can  be  shown  experimentally  that 
sound  cannot  pass  across  the  interior  of  the  tube,  but 
light  passes  across  it,  and  so  does  heat  and  force.  We 
cannot  believe  that  these  activities  are  transmitted 
through  absolutely  empty  space.  Something  must 
transmit  them,  for  they  are  transmitted  at  definite 
speeds.  This  something  is  named  the  ether.  Beyond 
its  powers  of  transmitting  energy,  hardly  anything  is 
yet  known  about  the  ether.  Its  structure  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  permeates  space  are  still  unsolved  rid- 
dles." 

"Hold  on  right  there,"  Zenas  cried  as  he  sprang  to 
his  feet,  "what's  the  use  of  readin'  any  more  when  the 
man  what  wrote  the  book  don't  know,  an'  says  he 
don't,  anythin'  about  it?" 

"He  knows  that  certain  causes  will  produce  certain 
results,  and  that  is  enough , for  the  time  being,"  Paul 
replied  with  a  laugh. 

"Well,  I  ain't  achin'  to  find  out  what  nobody  knows. 


144 

I'd  like  to  hear  how  you  contrive  to  send  messages 
from  here  to  Seaview  when  there  ain't  any  wires  for 
them  to  travel  on." 

"In  order  to  understand  it  you  must  first  know 
through  what  medium  the  sounds  are  transmitted,  and 
the  writer  of  this  book  claims  that  we  send  the  dots 
and  dashes  of  the  Morse  alphabet,  which  is  made  up 
of  the  symbols  used  by  telegraphers  on  land,  through 
the  ether,  rather  than  the  air,  or  through  the  combina- 
tion of  both.  Listen :  'When  it  is  agreed  that  the  ether 
is  a  universal  fluid  or  medium  in  which  all  matter 
swims,  so  to  speak,  many  things  may  be  accounted  for 
which  otherwise  we  could  not  even  attempt  to  explain. 
Electricity  and  magnetism,  for  example,  may  be  ac- 
counted for  in  a  general  way.  Just  as  wind  is  a  par- 
ticular energized  condition  of  the  air,  so  both  elec- 
tricity and  magnetism  are  particular  energized  condi- 
tions of  the  universal  ether,  which  underlies  the  air 
and  everything  else.  We  cannot  at  present  say,  for 
example,  that  electricity  is  the  same  kind  of  motion 
of  the  ether  that  wind  is  of  the  air,  because  we  do  not 
yet  comprehend  the  nature  of  the  ether '  " 

"Here  conies  your  father,"  Zenas  interrupted  as  he 
opened  the  door  of  the  shanty,  "an'  I  reckon  it's  'bout 
time,  for  I'm  gettin'  all  mixed  up  with  air  an'  ether. 
Some  day  when  you  have  a  chance,  s'pose  you  tell  me 
'bout  sendin'  messages  without  wires." 

"That's  just  what  I  have  started  to  do;  but  before 
you  can  understand  anything  about  it  you  must  have 
some  idea  of  the  force,  or  power,  which  is  used,"  Paul 
replied  laughingly. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  145 

"An5  the  man  what  wrote  that  book  says  right  out 
plump  an'  plain  that  he  don't  understand  anythin'  'bout 
it,"  Zenas  growled  as  if  he  had  personal  cause  for  com- 
plaint against  the  writer. 

"He  claims  to  know  what  is  done  in  the  ether,  with- 
out being  able  to  explain  it.  After  you  have 
learned  by  what  medium  the  wave-sounds  are  made, 
then  it  will  be  possible  to  give  you  an  idea  of  wire- 
less telegraphy,  and  we'll  talk  it  over  some  other 
time." 

At  this  point  Mr.  Simpson  entered  the  shanty,  and 
before  Paul  could  speak  he  asked  anxiously: 

"Have  you  had  any  word  from  Sea  view?" 

"Ned  says  the  schooner  is  in  the  harbor.  She  car- 
ried away  her  topmast,  and  will  have  to  lay  there  a 
couple  of  days  making  repairs." 

"You  will  be  obliged  to  go  across  to  get  fittings  be- 
fore the  Hampton  boat  can  be  used.  Why  not  start 
now?  The  sea  is  not  running  very  high." 

"I  can  make  the  voyage  all  right  in  the  old  dory," 
Paul  said,  as  he  looked  out  on  the  dancing  water. 

"Very  well ;  take  Zenas  with  you,  and  try  to  get  back 
before  morning.  I  want  you  to  go  to  Captain  Tobi 
Thompson  and  ask  him  to  learn  who  owns  the 
schooner,  and  who  is  on  board  of  her.  Tell  him  that 
it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  for  me  to  know  all  that 
may  be  gathered  about  her  and  her  crew.  Do  not  say 
anything  of  last  night's  happenings,  and  warn  Ned 
on  the  same  point.  Can  you  start  at  once?" 

For  reply  Paul  first  made  certain  his  instruments 
had  been  left  in  such  condition  that  they  could  not 


146  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

readily  be  disturbed  or  injured,  and  then  stepped  out 
of  the  shanty,  calling  to  Zenas : 

"Come  on.  I  reckon  we  shall  have  a  spell  of  bailing 
before  we  can  get  under  way,  for  the  dory  must  be  half 
full  of  water." 

Mr.  Simpson  followed  his  son,  taking  him  affec- 
tionately by  the  arm  as  he  said : 

"Get  such  things  as  you  may  need  to  put  the  Hamp- 
ton boat  in  commission,  oilskins  for  all  of  us,  and 
whatever  else  you  think  may  be  needed  during  the 
next  two  weeks.  Tell  your  mother  that  I  shall  not 
hurry  home." 

"Did  you  hear  or  see  anything  at  the  farm-house  ?" 

"I  didn't  get  a  glimpse  of  the  visitors,  but  heard 
sufficient  to  convince  me  that  they  are  in  a  room  over 
the  kitchen.  Mr.  Downs  went  to  that  apartment  this 
morning  after  Sam  looked  into  the  spare  chamber  to 
see  if  I  was  occupying  it.  The  visitors  had  been 
warned  that  I  was  in  the  house,  therefore  took  good 
care  not  to  make  a  noise." 

"Did  you  have  any  talk  with  Mr.  Downs  ?" 

"He  was  out  fishing  when  I  came  downstairs,  or,  at 
least,  his  wife  said  so.  I  intend  to  spend  the  greater 
portion  of  my  time  around  the  farm-house  until  you 
get  back,  when  Zenas  can  take  my  place." 

"You  believe  Mr.  Downs  is  ready  to  do  a  mischief  to 
the  foxes,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  you  have  agreed  to 
pay  him  and  his  sons  good  wages  for  a  long  while?" 

"There  is  no  other  way  by  which  matters  can  be  ex- 
plained ;  but  it  suits  my  purpose  for  the  time  being  to 
let  him  believe  I  have  every  confidence  in  his  inten- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  147 

tions,"  Mr.  Simpson  replied,  and  then  they  were  ar- 
rived at  that  portion  of  the  beach  where  the  motor-dory 
had  been  hauled  high  up  on  the  sand. 

The  little  craft  was,  as  Paul  had  supposed,  well 
filled  with  water,  for  rain  had  fallen  during  eighteen 
hours  in  great  quantity,  and  this  it  was  necessary  to 
remove  before  the  voyage  could  be  begun. 

Mr.  Simpson  lent  a  hand  at  the  work,  and  within 
half  an  hour  everything  was  ready  for  the  departure. 

"Be  careful  not  to  speak  of  what  we  have  seen  and 
believe,"  Paul's  father  cautioned  him  as  the  dory  was 
pushed  off  into  deep  water.  "Make  all  haste  possible; 
but  procure  everything  that  may  be  needed,  and  im- 
press on  Captain  Tobi's  mind  the  necessity  for  getting 
all  the  details  concerning  the  schooner  and  her  crew, 
even  though  you  are  forced  to  remain  in  Seaview  un- 
til morning." 

"We  shall  go  right  up  to  the  shanty  when  we  get 
back,  and  wait  there,  if  you  are  not  to  be  seen,"  Zenas 
announced,  and  Mr.  Simpson  replied: 

"If  you  do  not  return  until  after  dark,  I  shall  prob- 
ably be  at  the  farm-house,  for  it  is  my  intention  to  retire 
early,  an<l  there  will  be  no  need  to  disturb  me." 

"We're  off,"  Paul  shouted  cheerily  as  he  started  the 
motor  while  Zenas  took  the  helm,  and  Mr.  Simpson, 
without  waiting  to  see  them  pass  out  of  the  cove,  went 
rapidly  up  the  shore  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Downs's 
home. 

"I'm  allowin'  there  won't  much  go  on  while  we're 
away  that  he  don't  have  an  eye  on,"  Zenas  said  with 
a  purring  laugh.  "The  boarders  in  the  room  over  the 


148  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

kitchen  will  be  likely  to  have  quite  a  warm  time  of  it 
before  they  get  a  chance  to  move  around  very  lively, 
for  it  must  be  mighty  hot  up  there  this  weather  when 
there's  a  blazing  fire  in  the  cook-stove." 

The  dory  made  good  speed  once  the  full  power  of 
the  motor  was  on,  and  Zenas  had  hardly  more  than 
ceased  speaking  when  she  was  gliding  out  of  the  cove, 
coming  speedily  within  hail  of  Mr.  Downs  and  his 
sons,  who  were  fishing  a  short  distance  below  the 
southerly  point. 

"Hello,  what's  up?"  Sam  yelled  in  surprise.  "Where 
are  you  goin'  ?" 

"Over  to  Seaview,"  Paul  answered  curtly. 

"Anythin'  wrong?" 

"I've  got  to  have  some  fittings  for  the  Hampton  boat 
if  I  ever  expect  to  run  her  again,  and  I'm  going  for 
them." 

"I  should  kind'er  thought  your  father  would  have 
gone  with  you,"  Mr.  Downs  screamed,  and  Paul  fan- 
cied he  could  detect  a  note  of  anxiety  in  the  old  man's 
voice.  "Do  you  know  how  long  he  allows  to  stay?" 

"He  hasn't  told  me  anything  about  it,"  Paul 
shouted,  and  then  the  dory  was  so  far  away  that 
further  conversation  was  impossible. 

"Yes,  I  reckon  you  would  like  to  know  how  long 
Mr.  Simpson  counts  on  stayin',  Daniel  Downs.  An' 
a  couple  of  your  friends  what  are  roostin'  in  the  attic 
over  your  kitchen  would  give  considerable  to  know 
the  same  thing,"  Zenas  cried  softly,  and  he  indulged  in 
a  long  spell  of  purring  laughter  as  he  pictured  in  his 
mind  the  perspiring  visitors. 


CHAPTER  IX 

WIRELESS   TELEGRAPHY 

"How  long  will  it  take  us  to  make  the  run  ?"  Zenas 
asked  when  his  mirth  had  subsided  somewhat. 

"The  dory  can  do  about  nine  miles  an  hour.  The 
motor  is  heavier  than  one  ordinarily  sees  in  a  craft  of 
her  size,  and  shoves  her  through  the  water  at  a  good 
speed." 

"I  should  say  it  did,  if  she  can  run  at  that  gait," 
Zenas  said  half  to  himself,  and  after  waiting  a  few 
moments  without  hearing  anything  more  from  him, 
Paul  said  with  a  quizzical  expression: 

"We  can  count  on  being  alone  two  hours  and  a  half, 
and  surely  we  don't  want  to  go  all  over  the  island  af- 
fair again,  so  suppose  I  try  to  make  you  understand 
something  more  about  wireless  telegraphy  ?" 

"Somethin'  more?"  Zenas  repeated  with  a  grin. 
"What  you've  told  me  already  I  could  put  in  my  eye 
without  winkin',  an'  if  you  don't  get  ahead  any  faster 
than  when  you  read  out  of  that  'ere  book,  I  shan't  be 
overly  wise  by  the  time  we  get  inter  port." 

"I  brought  the  book  with  me  in  order  to  read  more 
from  it,  and  while  trying  to  give  you  a  little  informa- 
tion, brush  up  what  I  already  know,  or  think  I  know, 
on  the  subject.  If  you  remember,  we  were  told  in  the 
book  that  electric  waves  exist  in  the  ether,  but  that  fact 
was  not  discovered  until  the  year  1888,  when  Professor 
Hertz  demonstrated  it  by  a  simplified  form  of  the  ap- 

149 


150  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

paratus  used  to-day,  save  that  he  used  no  antenna  or 
ground  connections.  Now,  Zenas,  listen  intently,  and 
try  to  remember  what  you  hear,"  Paul  said  warningly 
as  he  opened  his  book  and  read : 

"Professor  Hertz  was  the  first  to  attempt  seriously 
what  Professor  Clerk  Maxwell  in  1867  had  prophesied 
would  be  accomplished  sooner  or  later.  Maxwell  had 
deduced  his  prophecy  from  abstruse  mathematical  con- 
siderations, and  had  predicted  the  properties  of  electric 
waves,  which  he  said  \vould  be  found  to  be  identical 
with  those  of  heat  and  light.  Heat,  light,  and  Hert- 
zian radiations  are,  in  fact,  electric  waves  of  different 
frequencies.  Hertz  verified  all  Maxwell's  predictions 
by  experiments  made  with  the  somewhat  unwieldy  ap- 
paratus which  the  dimensions  of  his  transmitter  de- 
tector necessitated.  The  detector  was  simply  a  large 
circle  of  wire,  at  one  point  in  which  there  was  a  gap 
between  two  very  small  spheres.  A  screw  adjustment 
was  used  to  vary  the  distance  separating  the  balls,  be- 
tween which  the  electric-motive  forces  induced  by  the 
waves  manifested  themselves  in  the  form  of  minute 
sparks. 

"In  about  the  year  1890,  Professor  Edouard  Branly 
investigated  the  effect  of  Ley  den  jar  discharges  on 
metallic  powders,  the  resistance  of  which  was  found 
to  be  greatly  decreased  after  the  passage  of  sparks  in 
the  neighborhood. 

"In  1895,  Sir  Oliver  Lodge  detected  waves  from  an 
oscillator  over  a  distance  of  about  forty  yards,  using1 
a  filings  tube  coherer,  a  galvanometer,  and  a  cell.  The 
coherer  consisted  of  a  tube  containing  metallic  filings 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  151 

into  which  two  wires  were  thrust  so  that  their  ends 
nearly  touched.  To  restore  the  coherer  to  its  original 
insulating  condition  after  it  had  become  conducting, 
it  was  necessary  to  shake  up  the  filings  by  giving  the 
tube  a  slight  tap.  In  the  same  year  Professor  Popoff 
of  Cronstadt  used  and  described  apparatus  in  which 
an  ordinary  lightning  conductor  was  employed  for  re- 
ceiving waves,  a  coherer  being  inserted  between  it  and 
the  earth.  Across  the  coherer  a  cell  was  connected  in 
series  with  a  relay,  the  contacts  of  which  formed  part 
of  a  circuit  containing  a  bell  and  a  battery.  The  ham- 
mer of  the  bell  was  so  placed  as  to  tap  the  coherer  and 
restore  it  to  an  insulating  condition. 

"In  the  same  year,  meaning  1895,  Captain  Jackson, 
of  the  English  navy,  carried  out  a  series  of  very  inter- 
esting experiments,  and  succeeded  in  signalling  be- 
tween ships.  In  1896,  Mr.  Marconi  took  out  a  patent 
for  'Improvements  in  Transmitting  Electrical  Im- 
pulses and  signals  and  in  Apparatus  therefore.'  This 
patent  claims  the  previously  known  coherer  and  tap- 
ping device,  and  also  one  or  two  novelties  of  a  minor 
kind,  but  the  real  invention  appears  to  have  been  the 
use  of  a  long  vertical  wire  attached  to  one  side  of  a 
spark-gap,  the  other  side  being  connected  to  earth." 

"Look  here,  Paul,"  Zenas  interrupted  at  this  point, 
"when  you  get  ready  to  tell  me  about  what  you  call 
wireless  telegraphy,  I'll  be  glad  to  listen ;  but  my  head 
ain't  strong  enough  to  take  in  any  more  of  the  bloomin' 
guff.  What's  it  all  about,  anyway?" 

"I've  been  reading  you  the  history  of  the  discovery, 
and  if  all  that  hadn't  happened  it  wouldn't  have  been 


152  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

possible  for  me  to  learn  from  Ned,  while  he  was  at 
Seaview  and  I  on  Barren  island,  that  the  schooner 
which  came  here  in  the  night  is  lying  at  harbor  with 
a  splintered  topmast." 

"All  that  may  be;  but  when  you  talk  to  me  'bout 
coherers  an'  that  sort  of  thing,  how  do  I  know  what 
you're  tryin'  to  drive  at?" 

"Haven't  I  just  been  reading  that  the  coherer  Mr. 
Marconi  uses  is  a  plain  glass  tube  filled  with  metallic 
filings?" 

"Why  not  say  so,  then,  an'  not  use  a  high-soundin' 
name  that  a  fellow  like  me  wouldn't  know  from  a  hole 
in  the  ground?  I've  got  all  the  information  on  wire- 
less telegraphy  that  I  can  stand  up  under  this  day. 
Later,  perhaps,  after  I've  had  time  to  grow  a  bit 
stronger,  I  may  be  able  to  take  another  dose.  What 
do  you  count  on  doin'  first  after  we  strike  Seaview?" 

"I'll  go  directly  to  Captain  Thompson,  and  after 
delivering  father's  message  I  shall  hunt  up  Ned." 

"What  am  I  to  be  doin'  all  that  time?" 

"Suppose  you  go  to  Mansfield's  and  buy  three  suits 
of  oilskins?  Then  you  might  run  over  to  the  machine 
shop,  and  ask  them  to  lay  out  these  fittings  for  me," 
and  Paul  gave  to  Zenas  a  slip  of  paper  on  which  was 
set  down  that  which  he  needed  to  put  the  Hampton 
boat  in  commission.  "Ned  and  I  will  meet  you  at  the 
machinist's." 

"All  right,  my  hearty,  an'  s'posen  you  an'  young 
Bartlett  unload  yourselves  of  wireless  telegraphy,  so's 
there  won't  be  any  show  of  your  firm'  a  lot  of  big 
words  inter  me  on  the  passage  over." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  153 

Paul  promised  laughingly  to  do  as  Zenas  desired,  or 
at  least  that  he  would  not  read  to  him  anything  more 
from  the  book  during  this  day,  and  then  the  two 
fell  to  discussing  matters  on  Barren  island,  specu- 
lating as  to  what  would  be  the  result  when  Mr. 
Simpson  came  upon  the  men  in  hiding,  as  he  must  do 
at  some  time  if  a  strict  watch  over  the  farm-house  was 
kept. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  old  dory  was  "eating  up  the 
miles"  at  as  good  a  rate  of  speed  as  she  had  ever 
shown,  and  it  was  not  yet  noon  when  the  visitors 
stepped  out  on  the  pier  in  Sea  view. 

Leaving  to  Zenas  the  task  of  caring  for  the  boat, 
Paul  hurried  away  to  find  Captain  Tobi  Thompson, 
succeeding  so  well  in  his  mission  that  within  ten  min- 
utes from  the  time  of  coming  ashore  he  had  repeated 
to  the  old  sailor  his  father's  message. 

"I'll  do  all  I  can,  my  lad,  an'  it  stands  to  reason  that 
if  a  man  is  so  minded  an'  willing  to  use  his  tongue,  he 
ought  to  find  out  a  good  bit  before  that  'ere  schooner 
is  in  shape  to  leave  her  moorings ;  but  it  ain't  reason- 
able to  agree  that  I  can  get  the  facts  together  very 
quick." 

"I  hardly  fancy  father  expected  I  could  bring  back 
the  information;  but  if  you'll  tell  Ned  Bartlett  what 
you  have  learned,  he'll  telegraph  it  to  me." 

"So  you  two  boys  have  really  gone  to  work  an' 
rigged  up  a  couple  of  wireless  stations,  eh?" 

"Yes,  sir,  and  they  are  working  fairly  well,"  Paul 
replied  modestly. 

"Well  now,  that's  what  I  call  amazin',"   Captain 


154 

Tobi  said  in  a  voice  as  loud  and  hearty  as  if  he  had 
been  giving  some  order  from  his  own  quarter-deck. 
"It's  amazin'  any  way  you  look  at  it.  First  that  you 
two  lads  should  be  able  to  build  the  stations  and  get 
the  thing  in  runnin'  order  without  help  from  outsiders, 
and  then  again  the  idee  of  sending  messages  without 
wires  is  equally  amazin'.  Why,  in  my  day  if  a  man 
had  come  aboard  ship  and  told  me  that  such  a  thing 
would  be  brought  about,  I'd  have  hustled  him  off  to  the 
nearest  asylum  for  crazy  people,  countin'  that  he  had 
gone  clean  off  his  head,  an'  yet  here  we  are  readin' 
every  mornin'  ship  news  that  has  been  sent  by  wireless. 
Well,  well,  this  earth  is  moving  terribly  fast,  no  mis- 
take." 

"Where  is  that  schooner  lying,  Captain  Tobi?  I 
looked  for  her  when  we  came  in,  but  didn't  see  any 
craft  that  might  answer  the  description." 

"That's  what  I  call  the  queer  part  of  it.  Instead  of 
haulin'  in  here  where  everythin'  is  handy,  they  must 
needs  sneak  'round  the  point,  an'  are  layin'  up  at 
Dean's  fish  wharf,  just  as  if  they  wanted  to  keep  out 
of  sight.  When  you  come  to  think  of  it,  that's  the  very 
way  for  'em  to  make  people  inquisitive.  Why  does  a 
vessel  that's  takin'  on  a  new  topmast  go  to  the  fish 
wharf,  instead  of  layin'  up  here  near  the  yard  where 
the  work  has  got  to  be  done?  If  so  be  I  may,  I'd  like  to 
ask  why  your  father  is  so  keen  about  the  craft?  Has 
she  been  foolin'  'round  Barren  island  rufflin'  the 
foxes?" 

"She  put  in  there  the  night  of  the  storm,  and  then 
-.vent  to  sea  again,"  Paul  replied  hesitatingly,  not 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  155 

knowing  whether  he  might  be  warranted  in  satisfying 
the  old  sailor's  curiosity. 

"At  all  events,  I  reckon  your  father  got  suspicious 
of  'em,  else  he  wouldn't  be  callin'  on  me." 

"I  think  perhaps  he  wanted  to  make  certain  whether 
she  was  an  honest  craft  or  not.  You  will  tell  Ned 
Bartlett,  captain,  when  you  have  learned  anything?" 

"Aye,  aye,  my  hearty,  that  I  will,  and  you  can  count 
on  hearin'  from  me  to-morrow  night  at  the  latest. 
Meanwhile,  tell  your  father  that  I  will  send  him  word 
when  the  schooner  puts  to  sea." 

Then  the  two  parted,  Captain  Tobi  to  spy  upon  the 
schooner  which  had  so  lately  visited  Barren  island,  and 
Paul  to  find  his  particular  friend  and  fellow-operator, 
Ned  Bartlett. 

This  last  task  was  not  a  long  one.  It  was  nearly 
time  for  the  noonday  meal,  and  by  going  directly  to 
Ned's  home  Paul's  search  was  ended. 

There  is  little  need  to  say  that  it  was  necessary  that 
the  visitor  from  Barren  island  should  give  a  detailed 
account  of  all  that  had  occurred  on  that  desolate  piece 
of  land  before  Ned  was  willing  to  speak  of  other  mat- 
ters, and  after  the  story  had  been  told  in  all  its  details 
with  injunctions  of  perfect  secrecy,  the  two  lads  made 
further  arrangements  as  to  the  time  when  the  stations 
should  be  opened,  Ned  agreeing  that  he  would  be  at  his 
post  at  least  ten  minutes  three  times  each  day — namely, 
at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  twelve  at  noon,  and 
six  at  night. 

In  order,  however,  that  Captain  Thompson  might 
have  ample  opportunity  to  send  such  information  as  he 


156  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

succeeded  in  gaining  regarding  the  schooner,  tHe  Sea- 
view  operator  promised  to  be  in  his  station  during 
every  hour  of  the  succeeding  day,  save  when  he  was 
obliged  to  go  to  the  academy. 

"I'll  take  my  books  down  there,  so  I  shan't  be  wast- 
ing time,  for  you  know  I'm  doing  my  level  best  to  get 
ahead  of  the  class  once  more  in  order  that  I  may  pay 
you  a  visit.  It  seems  to  me  Barren  island  has  sud- 
denly become  about  the  liveliest  place  on  this  coast, 
and  if  hard  work  can  bring  it  about,  I  am  going  to 
have  some  part  of  a  finger  in  the  pie." 

Then,  while  Ned  ate  his  dinner,  Paul  hurried  home 
to  see  his  mother,  with  the  agreement  that  Ned  was 
to  call  for  him  on  his  way  to  the  machine  shop,  where 
Zenas  was  doubtless  awaiting  them. 

The  lad  from  Barren  island  did  not  make  his  mother 
acquainted  with  all  that  had  happened  there,  fearing 
lest  she  would  be  unduly  anxious  if  she  knew  that  men 
were  hiding  in  the  farm-house  evidently  for  the  pur- 
pose of  doing  mischief.  He  explained  why  his  father 
intended  to  remain  longer,  by  giving  as  a  reason  that 
the  male  members  of  the  Downs  family  were  not  at- 
tending to  their  duties  as  had  been  agreed  upon. 

It  seemed  to  Paul  as  if  he  had  but  just  arrived  home 
when  Ned  came  for  him,  and  then  it  was  his  duty  to 
go  because  of  his  father's  injunctions  to  return  before 
nightfall  if  possible. 

Zenas  had  done  his  share  of  the  work  thoroughly, 
as  was  learned  a  few  moments  later,  and  before  the 
academy  bell  rang  to  summon  the  pupils  to  the  after- 
noon session  Ned  was  standing  on  the  pier  bidding 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  157 

his  friend  adieu  as  the  old  dory,  gathering  speed  each 
instant,  left  the  dock  on  her  return  to  Barren  island. 

"Remember  to-morrow!"   Paul   shouted   warningly, 
and  Ned  replied: 

"Don't  fear  that  I  will  forget,  and  if  it's  possible  for 
you  or  Zenas  to  come  over  here  next  week,  I'll  be  ready 
to  go  back  with  you  for  a  few  days." 

"We'll  come  whenever  you  say  the  word.  The 
Hampton  boat  can  make  the  voyage  in  a  little  more 
than  half  the  time  this  craft  does,  so  it  won't  be  much 
of  an  undertaking." 

Then  the  occupants  of  the  dory  were  beyond  hail- 
ing distance,  and,  looking  astern,  Paul  saw  Ned  wave 
his  hat  vigorously,  after  which  he  hurried  away  in  the 
direction  of  the  academy. 

"I'll  allow  you've  been  talkin'  this  'ere  wireless  busi- 
ness so  long  an'  so  fast  that  there's  no  danger  of  my 
gettin'  another  dose  of  it,  eh  ?"  Zenas  said  with  a  grin 
when  they  were  well  away  from  the  land,  and  Paul 
replied  with  a  laugh: 

"I  declare  I  forgot  what  you  wanted  me  to  do.  Ned 
and  I  haven't  even  spoken  on  the  subject,  save  to  make 
arrangements  as  to  when  he  should  be  in  the  station; 
but  don't  worry,  Zenas.  I  won't  insist  upon  your 
knowing  more  about  coherers,  detectors,  and  spark 
gaps  until  you  are  eager  for  the  information;  but  if 
you  will  once  set  about  making  yourself  familiar  with 
the  apparatus,  I'll  answer  for  it  that  you'd  soon  tire 
me  out  with  asking  questions." 

"Perhaps  I  may  come  to  that;  but  it  don't  seem 
likely.  What  with  the  foxes  an'  them  as  are  tryin'  to 


158  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

come  at  'em,  I  reckon  my  time  will 'be  'bout  taken  up. 
I  allow  you  count  on  puttin'  the  Hampton  boat  in 
shape,  seein's  we  shall  get  there  so  early  in  the  after- 
noon." 

"I  can  do  that  in  half  an  hour,  if  I  made  the  meas- 
urements for  the  fittings  correctly.  We  will  run  along- 
side of  her  when  we  come  into  the  cove.  You  can 
leave  me  aboard,  and  go  on  shore  to  report  to  father." 

"It'll  be  a  pretty  slim  kind  of  a  report,  seein's  all  I 
can  say  is,  'Here  are  the  oilskins,  Mr.  Simpson,'  an' 
he'll  say,  'How  much  did  you  pay  for  'em?'  an'  I'll 
tell  him  I  had  'em  charged  on  his  account." 

"That'll  be  enough  until  we  are  in  the  shanty  again. 
I'm  wondering  if  father  will  have  anything  startling 
to  tell  us." 

"I  don't  allow  he's  had  time  to  find  out  very  much. 
Them  as  are  hidin'  over  Daniel  Downs's  kitchen  will 
stay  under  cover  pretty  snug  to-day,  at  all  events ;  but 
when  night  comes,  then  our  work  is  cut  out,  for  we're 
bound  to  keep  that  'ere  house  mighty  close  under 
our  eyes  without  being  seen  by  any  of  the  Downs 
family." 

The  old  dory  broke  her  record  during  this  trip  from 
Seaview  to  Barren  island,  and  the  afternoon  was  but 
little  more  than  half  spent  when  Zenas  ran  her  along- 
side the  Hampton  boat ;  waited  until  Paul  could  scram- 
ble out,  taking  his  fittings  with  him,  and  then  on  to 
the  shore,  agreeing  to  return  half  an  hour  later. 

Before  beginning  his  work  of  putting  the  big  craft 
into  commission  once  more,  Paul  gazed  curiously 
around;  but  without  seeing  any  signs  of  life  save  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  159 

broad  back  of  Zenas,  as,  having  beached  the  old  dory, 
he  went  up  toward  the  station. 

Every  one  else  on  the  island  remained  hidden  from 
view  as  if  having  some  good  reason  for  concealment, 
and  straightway  the  lad  fell  to  imagining  what  might 
have  happened  during  his  absence,  conjuring  up 
the  most  improbable  events  with  no  other  effect 
than  to  make  himself  decidedly  uncomfortable  in 
mind. 

Then  he  began  to  work  with  feverish  haste,  having 
almost  persuaded  himself  that  his  father  was  in  dire 
need  of  him  ashore,  and  when,  after  what  seemed  like 
a  very  long  time,  Zenas  came  out  in  Mr.  Downs's  dory 
to  take  him  across  to  the  beach,  the  lad's  work  was  fin- 
ished. 

"Are  you  all  right?"  Zenas  cried  when  he  was 
within  easy  hailing  distance,  and  Paul  replied  nerv- 
ously : 

"I've  done  my  work  here,  and  so  far  as  can  be  seen 
this  craft  is  in  as  good  condition  as  before  Mr. 
Downs's  friends  tried  their  hand  at  disabling  her. 
What's  the  news  ashore?" 

"Nothin',  so  far  as  I  can  make  out.  Your  father 
wasn't  at  the  station,  so  I  went  'round  to  the  farm- 
house. Mrs.  Downs  said  he  wasn't  feelin'  well,  an' 
had  gone  upstairs  to  lay  down." 

"Sick,  is  he?"  Paul  cried  apprehensively,  and  Zenas 
grinned  as  he  pulled  the  dory  alongside  the  larger 
craft,  saying  in  a  low  tone : 

"I  reckon  he  ain't  ailin'  to  hurt.  Most  likely  thinks 
he  can  keep  his  eye  out  on  the  Downs  family  easier 


160  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

while  stayin'  upstairs,  than  if  he  loafed  'round  the  out- 
side." 

"What  are  we  to  do  about  it?"  Paul  asked  help- 
lessly. 

"I  reckon  it's  a  clean  case  of  obeyin'  orders,  an* 
nothin'  more.  He  said  we  should  wait  for  him  at  the 
station,  an'  that's  easy  done.  Ready  to  go  ashore?" 

Paul  replied  by  leaping  into  the  dory,  and  as  the 
boat's  bow  was  headed  for  the  beach  he  said  half  to 
himself : 

"I  don't  like  the  idea  of  father's  staying  in  that 
house." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  there's  no  knowing  what  might  happen 
if  those  men  discovered  that  he  was  watching  them. 
People  who  would  go  so  far  as  they  have  to  work  mis- 
chief, might  be  willing  to  commit  a  yet  greater  crime," 

"Now  don't  get  any  such  idees  in  your  head,  lad, 
else  you'll  be  all  worked  up,  an'  no  good  done.  It 
strikes  me  you're  pilin'  up  the  agony  from  nothin'  but 
your  imagination.  It  isn't  anythin'  very  far  out  of  the 
ordinary  to  steal  fox  pelts,  an'  not  so  serious  when 
taken  into  a  court  of  law;  but  more  than  that  would 
likely  land  Mr.  Downs's  boarders  in  the  State  Prison." 

"Father  seems  to  think  that  what  has  already  been 
attempted  is  a  very  serious  matter." 

"Aye,  so  it  is  when  you  look  at  it  from  the  fox  end. 
He's  figurin'  to  save  the  money  that's  been  invested, 
an'  wants  to  do  the  job  up  so  brown  that  these  fellers 
won't  try  the  dodge  agin.  They  think  nobody  except 
the  Downs  family  knows  they're  on  the  island,  an'  that 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  161 

it  will  be  easy  to  shut  our  eyes.  But  betwixt  the  three 
of  us  I'll  allow  that  they're  goin'  to  get  considerable  of 
a  jolt  before  this  business  is  ended." 

While  this  conversation  was  being  carried  on  Paul 
and  Zenas  were  walking  in  a  direct  line  from  the  beach 
to  the  shanty,  which  course  would  take  them  some  dis- 
tance from  Mr.  Downs's  home,  and  when  they  had" 
arrived  nearly  opposite  the  dwelling,  both  were  some- 
what surprised  to  see  the  farmer  come  out,  waving  his 
hand  energetically  for  them  to  stop. 

"What's  the  matter?"  Paul  asked  solicitously,  fear- 
ing on  the  instant  that  something  of  harm  might  have 
come  to  his  father. 

"I  was  wantin'  to  ask  why  you  wasn't  more  sociable- 
like  ?  It  seems  as  if  you  counted  on  keepin'  away  from 
us,  when  you  sneak  up  from  the  shore  in  this  way,  af- 
ter havin'  been  over  to  Seaview  for  a  visit." 

"We  were  going  to  the  station,  and  there's  no  real 
reason  why  we  should  go  to  the  house  at  this  time 
of  the  day,"  Paul  said  with  just  a  shade  of  hesitation 
in  his  voice,  for  he  hardly  knew  how  to  reply  to  this 
seeming  reproach. 

"Got  business  over  there,  eh?"  Mr.  Downs  asked 
inquisitively. 

"Nothing  more  than  that  we  ought  to  be  on  hand 
in  case  any  one  wants  to  send  us  a  message." 

"Who  might  you  be  countin'  on  would  send  word 
to  you  now  your  father's  here?"  and  Paul  had  good 
reason,  from  the  expression  pn  the  old  man's  face,  to 
believe  that  there  was  more  than  simple  curiosity  in 
the  question.  It  seemed  very  much  as  if  Mr.  Downs 


1 62  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

was  afraid  information  which  would  not  be  pleasing  to 
himself  might  be  sent  from  the  mainland. 

"Ned  Bartlett  always  calls  me  up  toward  night,  and 
I  like  to  be  there  to  answer." 

"What  does  he  have  to  talk  about  so  much  ?  It  must 
be  you  have  jest  seen  him,  eh?" 

"Yes,  he  was  at  the  pier  when  we  left." 

"An'  you  are  expectin'  he'll  send  some  word  over 
to-night?" 

"I  wasn't  expecting  it;  but  counted  on  being  there 
in  case  he  wanted  to  talk  with  me,"  Paul  said,  now 
speaking  curtly,  for  the  farmer's  tone  was  not  pleasing. 
"Even  if  I  wasn't  needed  at  the  instrument,  it  would 
be  better  for  Zenas  and  I  to  spend  our  time  in  the 
shanty  than  sitting  around  your  kitchen,  where  we 
might  inconvenience  Mrs.  Downs." 

"I  s'pose  you  don't  know  about  your  father,  eh?" 
Mr.  Downs  asked  abruptly  after  a  brief  pause. 

"Know  about  him  ?    What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"Didn't  mother  tell  this  feller  here  that  he  was  sick 
in  bed?" 

"She  said  he  wasn't  feelin'  very  well,  an'  had  gone 
upstairs  to  lay  down,  that's  all,"  Zenas  added. 

"Wa'al,  I  reckon  that's  about  the  sum  an'  substance 
of  what  she  did  say ;  but  the  fact  is,  sonny,  your  father's 
a  sick  man,  an'  seems  to  me  like  as  if  you  ought'er 
telegraph  for  your  mother  to  send  after  him.  This  'ere 
island  ain't  any  place  for  a  man  that's  ailin',  an'  the 
sooner  he's  taken  off  of  it  the  better." 

"I  reckon  he  won't  go  till  he  gets  good  an'  ready," 
Zenas  said  with  his  purring  laugh.  "When  Benjamin 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  163 

K.  Simpson  gets  so  that  he's  got  to  be  taken  off  the 
island,  he'll  be  a  pretty  sick  man,  an'  I'll  answer  for  it 
that  he  couldn't  walk  upstairs  alone." 

"Wa'al,  perhaps  it's  none  of  my  business  anyway; 
but  it  kind'er  struck  me  as  though  you  ought'er  tell 
your  ma  just  how  he  is,  so  she  can  advise  him  to  go 
home.  Of  course  mother  an'  I'll  do  all  we  can  to  make 
him  comfortable ;  but  we  ain't  got  the  kind  of  a  place 
that  he's  been  in  the  habit  of  livin'  in." 

"Did  you  think  he  looked  very  sick  when  you  saw 
him  last?"  Paul  asked,  now  beginning  to  understand 
the  meaning  of  the  farmer's  sudden  solicitation  re- 
garding his  employer's  health. 

"He  wasn't  right  peart,  that's  a  fact.  Said  he 
guessed  he'd  better  go  upstairs  an'  take  to  the  bed  a 
spell.  'Twixt  you  an'  me,  when  a  man  like  him  admits 
as  much  as  that,  things  have  got  pretty  serious,  so 
you'll  tell  your  ma  about  it,  will  you?" 

"I'll  wait  until  father  gives  his  permission." 

"Take  my  advice,  an'  do  it  now,  without  sayin'  a 
word  to  him,  'cause  when  a  man  of  his  age  gets  to 
feelin'  poorly,  it  ain't  long  before  he  runs  down  hill 
fast." 

"Paul  will  fix  it  all  right  'twixt  now  an'  night,  Mr. 
Downs,"  Zenas  said,  and  then,  without  seemingly  giv- 
ing heed  to  his  movements,  he  linked  his  arm  in  the 
lad's,  forcing  him  to  a  rapid  pace. 

"Think  over  what  I've  said,  an'  don't  wait  to  talk 
with  him,"  Mr.  Downs  called  after  them,  and,  looking 
back  an  instant  later,  the  two  saw  that  he  was  slowly 
retracing  his  steps  to  the  house. 


1 64  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"The  old  rat!"  Zenas  exclaimed  when  they  were  at 
such  a  distance  that  there  was  no  danger  his  words 
could  be  overheard.  "Wants  to  get  rid  of  your  father, 
eh?  An'  counts  on  makin'  you  do  the  job?  If  Daniel 
Downs  is  never  any  sicker  than  Benjamin  K.  Simpson 
is  this  minute,  he'll  live  until  Gabriel's  last  trump  is 
sounded.  Mind  what  I'm  tellin'  you,  lad:  Them 
boarders  of  his  have  got  tired  of  hidin'  in  that  hot  attic 
over  the  kitchen,  an'  if  Downs  can't  bring  about  any 
change  in  the  situation,  they'll  make  a  break  'twixt 
now  an*  to-morrow  mornin'.  We've  got  our  night's 
work  cut  out  for  us  all  right,  an'  I'm  thinkin'  it 
wouldn't  be  at  all  foolish  if  we  bottled  up  a  little  sleep 
now  while  your  father's  on  guard." 

"You  can  take  a  nap  if  you  feel  like  it;  but  I  can't 
close  my  eyes  while  affairs  are  in  this  condition,"  Paul 
replied  as  he  slackened  his  pace ;  but  quickened  it  again 
very  suddenly  when  he  saw  Sam  Downs  apparently 
coming  from  the  head  of  Swallow-Tailed  cove  toward 
the  station. 

"What's  the  fellow  doing?"  Zenas  asked  sharply. 

"I'm  not  too  certain  that  he  wouldn't  do  a  mischief 
to  the  apparatus  if  he  could." 

Zenas  was  walking  so  swiftly  as  to  make  it  seem 
that  he  was  running,  when  he  came  face  to  face  with 
Sam  a  dozen  feet  or  more  from  the  door  of  the  shanty. 

"Hello!"  Farmer  Downs's  son  cried  in  a  friendly 
tone,  but  looking,  so  Paul  thought,  as  if  he  had  been 
caught  on  the  verge  of  mischief.  "What's  your 
hurry?" 

"I  wanted  to  get  into  trie  station  so's  to  take  a  nap," 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  165 

Zenas  stammered.  "Didn't  sleep  very  well  last 
night" 

"It  seems  like  all  hands  of  you  are  wantin'  to  lay 
down  to-day.  There's  Mr.  Simpson,  he's  up  in  the 
spare  room;  been  there  about  all  the  time  you  were 
gone,  an'  now  you're  in  sich  a  pucker  that  you've  got 
to  run  in  order  to  get  inter  bed." 

Zenas  was  forced  to  wait  until  Paul  came  to  open 
the  door,  and  Sam  followed  them  into  the  building 
without  waiting  for  an  invitation. 

One  glance  around  the  small  room  told  the  wireless 
operator  that  nothing  had  been  disturbed  during  his 
absence,  and  with  a  feeling  of  greater  relief  in  his  mind 
than  he  would  have  cared  to  admit,  Paul  asked  of 
Sam: 

"Where  have  you  been  ?" 

"Just  movin'  'round,  back  and  forth,  'cordin'  to  or- 
ders. It  seems  like  we've  got  to  keep  humpin'  ourselves 
all  the  time  on  account  of  them  foxes,  whether  there's 
any  stranger  in  sight  or  not." 

"I  thought  your  father  did  the  watchin'  in  the  day- 
time, so's  you  an'  your  brother  could  get  a  chance  to 
sleep,"  Zenas  suggested  slowly. 

"So  he  does;  but  I  thought  I'd  have  a  look  'round 
seein's  how  I've  got  through  with  the  bed  for  this  day. 
What's  the  news  over  to  Seaview?" 

"Nothing  much,  except  that  a  schooner  put  in  there 
during  the  night  of  the  gale  with  her  topmast  gone — 
carried  away  outside;  near-about  here  'cordin'  to  what 
I  heard." 

"So  she—    What's  her  name?" 


1 66  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"I  don't  know;  she's  layin'  at  Dean's  wharf,  like  as 
if  she  didn't  want  anybody  to  see  her.  We  had  other 
fish  to  fry,  an'  wasn't  very  keen  'bout  lookin'  at 
her." 

Sam  appeared  more  disturbed  by  this  information 
than  an  honest  lad  would  naturally  be.  The  carrying 
away  of  a  topmast  was  not  of  such  rare  occurrence  as 
to  excite  alarm,  or  even  surprise,  and  yet  the  boy  gave 
good  evidence  of  both. 

"Did  you  tell  father  what  you  heard  'bout  the 
schooner  ?"  he  asked  with  an  anxious  note  in  his  tone, 
and  Zenas  replied  carelessly: 

"We  didn't  allow  it  would  have  any  great  weight 
on  his  mind.  'Pears  to  me  you're  takin'  it  pretty  hard, 
seein's  she's  a  stranger  that  most  likely  you  never  saw 
nor  heard  of." 

"What?  Me?"  and  Sam's  face  flushed.  "I  ain't 
takin'  it  to  heart,  am  I  ?  It  wouldn't  make  any  differ- 
ence to  me  if  forty  schooners  lost  their  spars  in  the 
gale,  'cept  they  come  'round  here,  would  it?" 

"Well,  I  shouldn't  suppose  it  would,  only  you're 
lookin'  frightened,  as  if  some  of  your  best  friends 
might  have  been  on  board." 

"Who?  Me?  I  ain't  frightened.  I've  got  nothing 
to  do  with  any  schooner.  How  long  is  she  likely  to 
stay  there  before  gettin'  fixed  up  agin?" 

"I  couldn't  tell  you,  my  son,  for  I  didn't  charge  my 
mind  with  anythin'  of  the  kind,  though  it  seems  to  me 
like  it  would  be  quite  a  spell.  If  she'd  hauled  up  near 
the  shipyard  now,  it  wouldn't  have  been  any  lengthy 
job.  But  while  she's  wav  over  to  Dean's  wharf  there 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  167 

must  be  considerable  time  wasted.  Like  as  not  the 
schooner  won't  get  out  of  Seaview  for  a  week  yet." 

Sam  turned  toward  the  door,  and  Zenas,  enjoying 
his  alarm  and  embarrassment,  said  in  a  most  friendly 
tone  as  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  boy's  shoulder  to  de- 
tain him: 

"What's  your  rush?  Why  don't  you  stop  here  for 
a  spell,  seein's  how  your  father's  on  duty,  an'  you  can't 
be  needed." 

"I've  got  to  get  back  to  the  house,"  and  Sam 
wrenched  himself  free  from  Zenas's  detaining  grasp. 
"There's  somethin'  I  forgot  to  do,  an'  marm  will  just 
about  have  the  fidgets  if  I  haven't  finished  it  before 
dark.  I'll  get  back  for  a  talk  some  other  time." 

Then  the  boy  went  swiftly  toward  the  farm  build- 
ings, and  Zenas  said  as  he  purred  with  delight : 

"I  reckon  I've  put  a  flea  in  his  ear,  an'  he'll  stick 
another  one  in  the  old  man's  head.  If  they  believe  the 
schooner  can't  get  back  here  within  a  week's  time,  you 
mark  my  words  that  there'll  be  some  change  in  their 
plans.  It  wouldn't  be  any  small  joke  to  keep  those 
boarders  of  Downs's  fryin'  in  that  attic  a  week  or  so, 
would  it?" 


CHAPTER  X 

PATROLLING  THE  COAST 

ZENAS  was  still  laughing  over  the  situation  of  the 
visitors  in  the  attic  of  the  farm-house,  as  he  had  pic- 
tured it  in  case  strict  watch  should  be  kept  upon  the 
building,  when  Ernest  entered  without  ceremony,  and 
as  Paul  looked  up  inquiringly,  he  said: 

"Your  father  wants  to  see  you  right  away.  I  reckon 
he's  taken  pretty  bad,  an'  all  our  folks  think  he  ought'er 
be  carried  home  'bout  as  soon  as  it  can  be  done." 

Now  Paul  was  really  alarmed.  He  could  not  believe 
his  father  would  have  sent  such  a  message  unless  it 
was  a  physical  impossibility  for  him  to  leave  the  house, 
and,  without  waiting  to  ask  any  questions,  he  hurried 
away,  crying  to  Zenas  as  he  ran: 

"You'd  best  stay  right  where  you  are  so  that  I 
shan't  have  any  trouble  to  find  you  in  case  father  is 
needing  more  help  than  I  can  give  him." 

"I'll  stay  an'  keep  my  eye  on  young  Downs,  so's  to 
make  certain  he  don't  do  any  mischief,"  Zenas  cried 
laughingly,  and  without  the  slightest  intent  to  intimate 
that  the  lad  might  need  watching;  but  Ernest  looked 
decidedly  troubled,  as  if  he  knew  there  were  good  rea- 
sons why  he  should  not  be  trusted  implicitly.  His  face 
flushed,  and  he  shuffled  his  feet  about  as  he  asked 
stammeringly : 

"What  makes  you  think  there's  any  need  of  keepin* 
watch  over  me?" 

168 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  169 

"It's  a  rule  of  mine,  sonny,  to  allow  that  every  fel- 
low will  bear  watchin',  an'  I  can't  see  why  I  should 
leave  you  out  of  the  list." 

"I  haven't  done  anythin'  that  Mr.  Simpson  wouldn't 
like,"  Ernest  cried,  and  on  the  instant  Zenas  looked 
at  him  questioningly,  saying  after  a  pause: 

"I  allow  that  you  haven't  been  accused,  an'  that's 
why  it  sounds  funny  to  hear  you  standin'  up  for  your- 
self so  strong.  If  you  hadn't  done  anythin'  crooked, 
you  wouldn't  be  so  keen  to  pick  up  a  word  spoken  in  a 
joke,  same's  when  I  answered  Paul." 

Ernest's  face  flushed  even  more  deeply  than  before, 
and  he  moved  about  the  small  apartment  uneasily  as 
he  replied  accusingly : 

"You  fellows  are  keepin*  everythin'  so  secret,  an* 
hug  to  yourselves  so  snug  up  here,  that  it  looks  as  if 
somethin'  was  wrong.  I  ain't  the  only  one  what's  got 
the  same  idee  in  his  head." 

"Meanin'  that  your  father  is  kind'er  uneasy,  eh?" 

"Wa'al,  he  can't  make  out  what  you  folks  are  drivin' 
at,  an'  that's  a  fact." 

"Why  should  he  care?"  Zenas  asked  with  an  air  of 
innocence.  "So  long  as  he  lives  up  to  the  bargain  he 
made  with  Mr.  Simpson,  I  can't  see  why  he  should 
bother  his  head  over  what  we're  doin'.  This  'ere  is 
what  you  might  call  a  telegraph  station,  an'  it  stands  to 
reason  we'd  be  'round  it  a  good  deal  so's  to  know  if 
anybody  wanted  to  send  a  message." 

"Who'd  send  any  word  while  you're  here?  Is  any- 
thin'  goin'  on  over  to  Seaview  that  you'd  need  hear 
about?" 


1 70  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Why  bless  your  heart,  of  course  there  is.  Paul 
might  like  to  hear  what  his  mother  had  for  dinner,  or 
how  Ned  was  comin'  on  at  the  academy.  You  see 
we're  bound  to  keep  abreast  of  the  news,  even  though 
we  are  on  the  most  desolate  place  that  can  be  found  in 
the  Atlantic  ocean." 

"Is  that  all  you  folks  telegraph  about?"  Ernest 
asked  curiously. 

"Of  course  I  can't  say  right  up  an'  down  what  kind 
of  news  does  come  across  here,  for  it's  only  a  lot  of 
dots  and  dashes  when  Paul  picks  'em  out.  He  can  read 
it,  though,  an'  there's  no  way  for  me  to  know  whether 
he  tells  me  about  the  whole  of  it." 

Ernest  looked  puzzled,  and  it  appeared  to  Zenas  as 
if  he  was  on  the  point  of  asking  more  questions;  but  at 
that  moment  Paul  could  be  seen  coming  toward  the 
shanty  hurriedly,  and  the  lad  shuffled  out  of  the  build- 
ing to  ask : 

"How's  your  father?" 

"I  don't  believe  he's  very  sick;  most  likely  he'll  come 
over  here  after  supper." 

"Then  he  ain't  goin'  home  right  away?" 

"I  don't  know  of  any  good  reason  why  he  should. 
It  is  for  him  to  say  how  long  he'll  stay." 

"Yes,  of  course  it  is;  but  my  folks  think  he's  real 
sick,  an'  ought'er  be  taken  off  the  island  as  soon  as  it 
can  be  done." 

"So  your  father  told  me;  but  I'm  of  the  belief  that 
there  won't  be  any  move  made  in  that  direction  for 
some  time  to  come,"  Paul  replied  with  a  note  of  sharp- 
ness in  his  voice,  and  then  he  hurried  into  the  shanty, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  171 

where,  through  the  open  door, 'he  watched  keenly  until 
Ernest  had  lazily  moved  beyond  earshot. 

"Was  anything  wrong?"  Zenas  asked  in  a  low  tone, 
for  he  understood  that  Paul  had  that  to  say  which 
should  not  be  overheard  by  any  member  of  the  Downs 
family. 

"Father  wants  to  get  out  of  doors,  for  he's  tired  of 
being  cooped  up  in  that  room ;  but  he  won't  come  until 
you  are  where  it  will  be  possible  to  keep  a  sharp  eye  on 
the  buildings,  at  the  same  time  that  you  can  remain 
hidden  from  view." 

"I  reckon  that  can  be  done,  providin'  old  Daniel 
don't  keep  too  keen  a  lookout  when  I  go  snoopin' 
'round.  There's  quite  a  pile  of  wood  stacked  up  be- 
hind the  shed,  an'  I  might  get  out  of  sight  there,  un- 
less some  of  the  family  came  nosin'  that  way." 

"Father  says  that  you  are  to  do  the  best  you  can, 
and  I  am  to  loiter  around  between  the  buildings  and 
the  cove.  He  has  heard  the  men  stirring  about  as  if 
growing  impatient  because  of  being  imprisoned  there, 
and  believes  an  attempt  will  be  made  this  night  to  get 
them  outside." 

"That's  my  idee  to  a  dot,"  Zenas  added  emphati- 
cally. "Now  old  Daniel  knows  that  the  schooner 
ain't  likely  to  be  here  for  some  time,  he's  keen  to  get 
'em  where  they  won't  come  so  near  roastin'." 

"We  are  to  make  no  move  until  the  horn  blows, 
when  you  and  I  are  to  go  to  the  farm-house  for  supper. 
After  it  has  been  eaten  we're  to  take  our  stations,  and 
he'll  come  downstairs." 

"Then  what?" 


172  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"He  didn't  explain  "further.  It  seems,  however, 
that  we're  to  have  our  eyes  peeled  till  morning,  and  in 
case  the  visitors  succeed  in  giving  us  the  slip,  I'm  to  keep 
the  Hampton  boat  running  around  the  island  to  prevent 
them  from  leaving.  He  believes  that  by  giving  these 
fellows,  whoever  they  may  be,  a  stiff  dose,  it  will  pre- 
vent others  from  attempting  to  do  the  foxes  a  mischief." 

"An'  he's  right.  I'm  hopin'  that  John  Ed  Bingham 
is  one  of  them  as  are  being  fried  in  Mrs.  Downs's  at- 
tic, in  which  case  he'll  be  brought  up  with  a  round  turn 
such  as  he's  never  felt  before.  Somehow  that  old 
scoundrel  has  got  off  by  the  skin  of  his  teeth  every 
time  he's  been  in  mischief,  an'  quite  a  lesson  is  needed 
before  he'll  decide  to  behave  himself.  What  about  this 
'ere  while  you're  doin'  guard  duty?"  and  Zenas  mo- 
tioned with  his  thumb  toward  the  instruments  which 
made  up  the  wireless  apparatus. 

"As  a  matter  of  course  it  won't  be  possible  to  send 
or  receive  messages,  and  it  isn't  likely  that  we'll  be 
called  upon  to  do  anything  of  the  kind  until  Captain 
Thompson  has  learned  something  regarding  the 
schooner." 

Then  Zenas  decided  that  it  would  be  a  good  idea 
for  him  to  select  a  hiding-place  in  advance  of  the  time 
when  it  would  be  necessary  to  occupy  it,  and  Paul  was 
left  alone  to  wait  until  the  horn  should  be  blown  sum- 
moning the  family  to  supper. 

He  spent  his  time  in  guarding  against  a  possible 
mischief  to  any  of  the  apparatus,  so  far  as  was 
within  his  power,  and  so  arranged  things,  as  he  be- 
lieved, that  it  would  be  extremely  difficult  for  any  one 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  173 

not  understanding  the  mechanism  to  put  the  station 
out  of  commission. 

He  had  but  just  ceased  his  precautionary  labors 
when  Zenas  returned,  and  said  as  he  rilled  and  lighted 
his  pipe: 

"I  reckon  I've  got  a  hidin'  place  all  right.  To  the 
s'uthard  of  the  woodshed,  an'  not  more'n  twenty  feet 
from  it,  are  the  timbers  of  a  buildin'  that  most  likely 
fell  down  because  of  old  age.  I  can  crawl  under  them, 
if  nobody  is  watchin',  an'  never  a  soul  will  know  I'm 
near  the  house,  unless  the  ruins  are  overhauled." 

"You  can  eat  your  supper  in  a  hurry,  and  go  out  of 
doors  while  all  hands  are  at  the  table.  That  will  settle 
matters,  so  far  as  your  being  seen  while  getting  into 
the  hiding  place  is  concerned." 

"You're  right,  an'  the  minute  that  horn  begins  to 
toot  I'll  make  a  bee  line  for  the  house,"  and  Zenas  in- 
dulged in  a  purring  laugh  which  came  near  being  his 
undoing,  for  he  swallowed  a  quantity  of  tobacco 
smoke,  and  had  but  just  recovered  from  a  severe  fit 
of  coughing  when  the  signal  that  the  evening  meal 
was  ready  could  be  heard. 

Everything  happened  as  Paul  and  Zenas  had  ar- 
ranged. The  members  of  the  Downs  family  had 
hardly  more  than  well  begun  supper  when  young 
Gushing  pushed  his  chair  back  from  the  table  with  the 
air  of  one  who  has  satisfied  his  hunger,  and  despite 
Mrs.  Downs's  entreaties  that  he  "eat  a  little  more,"  ran 
out  of  the  room,  shutting  the  door  behind  him  with 
a-  bang  that  warned  Mr.  Simpson  it  was  time  for  him 
to  abandon  his  unpleasant  post  of  duty. 


174  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Paul  had  left  the  building  before  his  father  ap- 
peared, and  five  minutes  later  was  lying  on  the  grass 
between  the  house  and  the  cove,  where  he  must  of 
necessity  see  any  one  who  came  out  of  or  went  into  the 
farmer's  dwelling. 

Half  an  hour  later  Mr.  Simpson  joined  his  son,  sit- 
ting by  the  latter's  side  as  he  said  in  a  low  tone: 

"Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  for  you  to  go  into  the 
station  a  few  moments,  in  case  Captain  Tobi  has  any 
message  to  send.  I'll  wait  here  till  you  come  back. 
Make  an  arrangement  to  have  Ned  at  his  instrument 
early  in  the  morning." 

"He  has  already  agreed  to  be  there  at  seven  o'clock, 
sir." 

"Very  well;  that  will  be  early  enough.  Now  find 
out  if  he  wants  to  say  anything  to  you,  and  then  come 
back  here  to  me." 

Paul  hurried  away;  but  owing  to  the  care  with 
which  he  had  disconnected  the  apparatus  that  no  harm 
might  come  to  it  from  evil-disposed  persons,  it  was  a 
full  half  hour  before  he  could  send  out  the  call  of  n-d, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  Sam  Downs  had  come  into  the 
shanty,  looking  curiously  around,  as  if  fancying  some 
changes  might  have  been  made  since  he  was  there 
last. 

"What's  goin'  on  now?"  he  asked,  coming  close  to 
Paul's  side  as  if  fascinated  by  his  rapid  working  of 
the  telegraph  key. 

"Nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  run  that  I  know  of," 
Paul  replied  as  he  continued  the  call,  stopping  now 
and  then  to  switch  on  the  receiver  and  listen. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  175 

"Seems  like  as  if  you  was  in  a  terrible  hurry  to  rout 
out  somebody,  don't  it?" 

"I  am  trying  to  call  Ned  Bartlett,  that's  all;  but 
there's  no  hurry  about  it.  One  is  forced  to  work  this 
key  quickly  in  order  to  form  the  letters  correctly." 

Before  Sam  could  ask  any  further  questions  the  re- 
ply came: 

"O.  K.  n-d.   Why  weren't  you  there  at  six?" 

"Other  business,"  Paul  replied,  Sam  watching  his 
every  movement  jealously.  "Have  you  heard  any- 
thing?" 

"No.  Schooner  still  at  fish  wharf.  Captain  Tobi 
is  at  Mansfield's  with  a  man  who  may  be  the  captain. 
Shall  you  call  me  up  again  to-night  ?" 

"Can't,  because  of  other  work." 

"Anything  lively  going  on?" 

"Zenas  thinks  something  will  drop  before  morning. 
Good-night." 

"Good-night.  Don't  get  into  more  trouble  than  you 
can  get  out  of,"  and  the  telegraphic  conversation  was 
at  an  end  until  next  morning. 

"What  has  he  been  sayin' ,  if  he  did  really  talk 
through  that  contraption?"  Sam  asked  curiously,  and 
Paul  replied  with  a  laugh,  as  once  more  he  made  the 
station  snug  for  the  night  beyond  all  ordinary  possibil- 
ity that  harm  could  be  done  the  apparatus : 

"He  says  he  will  talk  with  me  in  the  morning." 

"Seems  to  me  it  took  a  good  while  for  him  to  say 
that  little,"  Sam  replied,  as  if  he  believed  it  was  Paul's 
purpose  to  deceive  him  in  some  way. 

"Well,  he  did  say  a  bit  more;  but  it  was  nothing 


176  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

that  would  be  of  interest  to  you.  If  you  don't  believe 
messages  can  be  sent  without  wires,  why  are  you  so 
curious  to  know  what  I  pretend  was  said?" 

"Wa'al,  you  see,  we  ain't  jest  certain  but  that  it  all 
works  as  you  say,  an'  it  stands  to  reason  a  fellow  would 
like  to  know  what  might  be  goin'  on." 

"All  that  concerns  us  is  to  prevent  any  one  from  do- 
ing a  mischief  to  the  foxes,"  Paul  said  as  he  opened  the 
door,  intending  that  Sam  should  construe  the  move- 
ment as  an  invitation  for  him  to  take  his  departure. 

"I  reckon  they're  all  right,"  the  lad  replied  without 
giving  any  heed  to  the  mute  invitation.  "The  trouble 
is  that  you  an'  your  father  are  too  finnicky  'bout  the 
creeters.  They'll  take  care  of  themselves,  an'  be  a  good 
deal  better  off  if  you'll  leave  'em  alone.  We've  promised 
that  nobody  shall  land  here,  an'  will  keep  our  word." 

"Of  course  you  will,  else  it  would  be  necessary  for 
father  to  put  others  in  your  place.  Now  if  you  will 
go  out,  I  can  lock  the  shanty." 

"What's  the  need  of  doin'  that?"  Sam  asked  sus- 
piciously. "When  there's  nobody  but  us  folks  on  the 
island,  I  don't  see  why  you  should  be  so  fussy." 

"It  doesn't  do  any  harm,"  Paul  replied  with  a  laugh, 
"and  in  case  any  person  did  happen  to  get  ashore  de- 
spite your  watchfulness,  he  couldn't  do  mischief 
here." 

Sam  looked  inquiringly  at  the  lad  from  Seaview,  as 
if  trying  to  decide  whether  there  might  be  any  hidden 
meaning  in  his  words,  and  meanwhile  Paul  gently,  but 
with  a  certain  determination,  forced  him  toward  the 
door  until  he  was  on  the  outside. 


'HERE    HE    IS!    COME   AND    HELP   ME!" 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  177 

"Now  where  are  you  goin'  ?"  Master  Downs  asked, 
in  no  way  disconcerted  by  thus  being  forcibly  ejected. 

"I  count  on  loafing  around  a  spell  in  the  open  air. 
It's  too  good  a  night  to  stay  indoors.  Isn't  it  time  for 
you  to  begin  your  rounds  of  the  shore?  I  thought  you 
and  Ernest  went  on  duty  at  sunset." 

"That's  in  the  bargain,  but  if  all  hands  of  you  are 
snoopin'  'round,  there's  no  need  of  our  joinin'  the  pro- 
cession," Sam  replied,  and  then  added  suddenly, 
"Where's  the  other  fellow?" 

"At  the  cove,  I  fancy.  Since  some  one  disabled  the 
Hampton  boat,  even  when  you  and  Ernest  were  sup- 
posed to  be  standing  careful  watch,  it  is  up  to  us  to  see 
that  such  a  thing  doesn't  happen  again,"  and  Paul  set 
out  in  the  direction  of  the  farm-house  as  if  he  would 
part  company  with  Master  Downs;  but  Sam  was  not 
to  be  shaken  off  so  easily." 

"Of  course  nobody  had  any  thin'  to  do  with  the  boat 
but  you,"  he  replied  doggedly.  "None  of  our  folks 
would  have  hurt  her,  an'  you  must  have  got  flustered 
an'  lost  the  nuts  an'  sparker,  so  father  says." 

"He  forgets  that  I  showed  him  good  proof  some 
person  had  landed  that  morning,"  Paul  added,  and 
then  he  was  come  to  where  his'  father,  in  the  attitude 
of  one  who  is  simply  idling  away  the  time,  remained 
on  watch. 

Not  until  then  did   Sam  take  himself  away,  and 
when  he  was  beyond  earshot  on  a  course  which  would- 
lead  him  to  the  cove,  most  likely  in  search  of  Zenas, 
Paul  asked  in  a  whisper : 

"Have  you  seen  anything  suspicious  ?" 


178  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"I  might  say  yes  or  no  with  equal  truth,"  Mr.  Simp- 
son replied.  "Five  minutes  ago  I  fancied  some  person 
came  out  of  the  kitchen  door  by  the  side  of  Mrs. 
Downs;  but  I  must  have  been  mistaken,  for  when  she 
went  into  the  woodshed  no  one  was  to  be  seen.  A  mo- 
ment later  I  thought  I  heard  what  sounded  like  a  cry 
of  distress;  but  it  couldn't  have  been,  for  there  is  no 
one  near  here  to  do  mischief,  and,  besides,  otherwise 
everything  has  been  as  still  as  the  grave.  Did  Ned 
have  any  news  for  us  ?" 

Paul  repeated  all  that  his  friend  had  said,  and  then 
told  his  father  of  Sam's  visit,  adding  in  conclusion : 

"Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  must  think  you  are  com- 
municating with  the  mainland  in  a  way  that  will  work 
to  their  harm,  otherwise  they  wouldn't  be  so  curious 
regarding  what  comes  or  goes  over  the  wireless." 

"Knowing  they  are  engaged  in  an  act  of  treachery 
against  me,  it  is  only  natural  they  should  be  unduly 
suspicious.  You  are  to  stay  nearabout  here,  where  you 
can  keep  the  buildings  in  full  view,  and  I  will  move 
around  a  bit.  I  haven't  seen  Mr.  Downs  since  supper, 
and  would  really  like  to  know  if  he  is  yet  in  the  house." 

Paul  was  not  in  the  mood  to  walk  more  than  might 
be  absolutely  necessary,  and  after  his  father  left  him 
he  lay  stretched  out  at  full  length  on  the  grass,  with 
his  face  turned  toward  the  house,  enjoying  a  short  re- 
spite from  the  excitement  under  which  he  had  labored 
since  morning. 

Within  his  range  of  vision  no  human  being  could 
be  seen.  The  surf  was  singing  a  sleepy  song,  as  if 
wearied  from  its  exertions  during  the  gale;  now  and 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  179 

then  one  of  the  steers  lowed  as  if  because  of  being  dis- 
turbed, and  a  night  bird  swooped  around  the  prostrate 
lad  with  a  soft  note  of  gladness.  All  else  was  silence. 

Lazily  Paul  wondered  where  Ernest  was  and  where 
Sam  had  gone.  He  felt  certain  he  knew  exactly  the 
location  of  Zenas's  hiding  place,  and  did  not  spend 
overly  much  time  gazing  in  that  direction. 

Mr.  Simpson  had  strolled,  as  if  aimlessly,  toward 
the  house,  evidently  intending  to  circle  around  the 
northerly  portion,  and  when  he  disappeared  from  view 
behind  the  building  Paul  watched  with  no  especial 
eagerness  for  his  reappearance  at  the  southerly  end. 

It  was  while  he  lay  there  speculating  as  to  what  his 
father  might  be  doing  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling,  that 
he  was  startled  into  a  sitting  posture  by  what  sounded 
like  a  moan  of  distress,  and  he  listened  intently,  his 
heart  beating  wildly,  until  satisfying  himself  that  he 
must  have  been  mistaken,  when  he  stretched  out  at  full 
length  once  more. 

Night  was  coming  on  rapidly.  The  gaudy  colors 
sent  by  the  setting  sun  had  faded  from  the  clouds ;  the 
grayness  of  twilight  was  giving  place  to  darkness 
when  again  he  was  aroused,  and  this  time  he  sprang 
to  his  feet  almost  believing  some  accident  had  hap- 
pened to  his  father,  who  as  yet  had  not  come  from  be- 
hind the  dwelling. 

"That  was  surely  a  human  voice!"  he  exclaimed, 
unconsciously  speaking  aloud.  "My  orders  were  to 
remain  here ;  but  if  I  hear  that  sound  again  I'll  take  the 
chances  of  disobeying  father  to  learn  what  it  means." 

At  that  moment  Mr.  Downs  appeared,  coming  from 


180  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

the  direction  of  the  thicket  where  the  foxes  had  been 
liberated,  and  despite  the  gloom  of  night,  Paul  fancied 
that  he  could  see  the  farmer  looking  about  him  fur- 
tively, as  if  fearing  some  one  might  have  been  dogging 
his  footsteps. 

As  he  approached  the  house  the  man  halted  now  and 
then  to  gaze  around,  and  Paul  crouched  low  on  the 
earth  lest  the  outlines  of  his  form  should  be  seen 
against  the  sky. 

After  loitering  around  irresolutely  five  minutes  or 
more,  Mr.  Downs  went  into  the  dwelling,  and  a  few 
seconds  later,  to  his  great  relief  of  mind,  Paul  saw  his 
father  come  from  behind  the  house. 

Mr.  Simpson  showed  himself  boldly,  as  if  not  afraid 
of  being  seen,  and  hurriedly  approached  his  son. 

"What  have  you  seen?"  he  demanded  sharply. 

"Nothing,  except  Mr.  Downs  as  he  came  from  the 
woods — at  least,  it  seemed  to  me  he  came  from  there." 

"The  men  have  got  out  of  the  house  despite  our 
watching." 

"How  do  you  know  that,  sir?" 

"The  window  of  the  attic  is  open,  and  when  I  came 
here  from  supper  it  was  closed.  Downs  also  got  out 
of  the  house  without  being  seen  by  us,  and,  as  you  say, 
he  has  just  come  from  the  thicket,  although  it  was  in 
the  bargain  that  neither  he  nor  his  sons  should  go 
among  the  trees  until  I  gave  permission.  Have  you 
heard  anything?" 

"Twice  a  sound  like  a  person  moaning,  and  I  had 
made  up  my  mind  that  I'd  go  to  find  out  what  it  might 
be  if  it  was  heard  again." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  181 

"Do  you  know  where  Zenas  made  his  hiding  place?" 

"Under  the  timbers  of  the  ruined  building  just  back 
of  the  shed.  If,  as  you  believe,  the  men  have  left  the 
house,  there  is  no  reason  why  he  should  remain  there 
any  longer." 

"Call  him  in.  I  will  wait  here.  You  and  he  must 
patrol  the  shore  in  the  Hampton  boat  from  now  till 
morning,  for  I  don't  intend  those  fellows  shall  leave 
the  island  save  with  my  permission.  We  will  anchor 
the  old  motor  boat  and  Mr.  Downs's  dory  out  where 
they  can't  be  come  at  save  by  swimming." 

Paul  stole  softly  away  in  obedience  to  his  father's 
bidding,  having  no  doubt  but  that  he  could  come  upon 
Zenas  at  the  first  trial ;  but  on  arriving  at  the  ruins  he 
spoke  Cushing's  name  softly  three  or  four  times  with- 
out receiving  any  reply. 

Then  came  the  thought  that  most  likely  Zenas,  hav- 
ing seen  the  strangers  leaving  the  farm-house,  had  fol- 
lowed to  dog  their  footsteps,  therefore  he  returned  to 
acquaint  his  father  with  what  he  supposed  to  be  a  fact. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  on  the  shore  of  the  cove  launching 
the  old  motor  boat,  and  when  Paul  told  him  of  the  con- 
clusion he  had  arrived  at,  appeared  decidedly  alarmed. 

"It  is  certain  Zenas  did  not  follow  the  men,  other- 
wise I  must  have  seen  him  when  I  went  near  the 
thicket.  Go  back  to  the  ruins  and  overhaul  the  tim- 
bers, giving  no  heed  as  to  whether  or  no  you  are  seen 
by  the  Downs  family." 

Paul,  alarmed  by  his  father's  show  of  anxiety,  ran 
back  at  full  speed,  allowing  his  imagination  to  picture 
all  kinds  of  dark  deeds  that  might  have  been  done,  and 


182  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

arriving  at  the  ruins  of  the  building  he  pulled  away  the 
timbers  with  feverish  haste,  calling  the  name  of  Zenas 
now  and  then. 

While  working  Mr.  Downs  came  from  the  house 
looking  and  acting  as  if  alarmed,  and  cried  out  to  Paul 
in  tremulous  tones: 

"What's  goin'  on  there,  young  man?  What's  the 
matter?" 

"I  heard  some  one  moan,  and  the  noise  sounded  as 
if  it  might  have  come  from  beneath  these  timbers," 
Paul  replied  as  he  continued  his  work  even  after  the 
farmer  had  seized  him  by  the  arm,  saying  angrily : 

"Go  back  where  you  belong — to  your  shanty,  or  in- 
ter the  house.  If  anybody  is  groanin'  'round  here  it's 
my  business  to  hunt  for  'em.  If  there  is  a  hurt  man 
under  these  'ere  timbers  he  can't  be  any  of  your  folks." 

"But  that's  just  who  he  can  be.  Zenas  should  be 
around  here  somewhere.  He  isn't  with  father." 

"What's  he  meddlin'  with  my  property  for?"  Mr. 
Downs  screamed  in  a  loud  but  shaky  voice  as  he 
dragged  Paul  back  a  few  paces,  and  the  lad,  now  con- 
vinced that  this  seemingly  innocent-minded  old  man 
was  really  in  league  with  his  father's  enemies, 
wrenched  himself  free  from  the  detaining  grasp  as  he 
said  angrily : 

"Don't  you  touch  me,  Mr.  Downs,  or  I'll  call  to 
father  for  help.  Zenas  is  here  somewhere,  and  I  count 
on  finding  him  whether  you  like  it  or  not." 

"You  shan't  meddle  with  my  property,"  the  old  man 
repeated  again  and  again,  as  if  not  fully  aware  of  what 
he  was  saying,  and  at  that  instant,  having  been  at- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  183 

tracted  by  the  outcries,  Mr.  Simpson  came  up  hurriedly 
as  he  shouted: 

"What's  going  on,  Paul?  Leave  that  boy  alone, 
Downs,  or  you'll  have  trouble  with  me!" 

"I  won't  have  him  diggin'  'round  my  buildin's,"  the 
old  man  wailed  childishly,  and  Mr.  Simpson  cried : 

"You  don't  own  a  stick  or  a  stone  on  this  place.  Do 
as  you  had  begun,  Paul,  and  if  we  don't  find  Zenas 
soon  I  will  take  the  law  into  my  own  hands,  which 
won't  be  pleasant  for  those  who  are  playing  me  false." 

"Nobody  is  tryin'  to  hurt  you,  Mr.  Simpson,"  the 
old  farmer  muttered,  and  then  he  would  have  set  off 
toward  the  cove;  but  that  Paul's  father  stopped  him 
by  saying  sternly : 

"Come  back  here !  Neither  you  nor  your  sons  are  to 
move  a  boat  this  night,  even  though  one  of  them  is 
your  lawful  property.  Come  here  by  my  side,  and 
you'll  be  wise  to  make  certain  your  sons  don't  venture 
on  the  shore  near  by  here." 

Meanwhile  Paul  was  pulling  the  timbers  aside  to 
the  best  of  his  ability,  cutting  his  hands  on  rusty  nails, 
and  tearing  the  flesh  of  his  fingers  with  jagged  splin- 
ters of  wood.  There  was  a  great  fear  in  his  heart  that 
some  grievous  wrong  had  been  done  Zenas,  and  he  gave 
no  heed  to  his  own  injuries. 

Then,  while  his  father  was  actually  holding  the  old 
farmer  to  prevent  him  from  going  toward  the  cove, 
Paul  came  upon  that  for  which  he  sought,  and  a  cry 
of  distress  escaped  his  lips. 

"Here  he  is,  dead  I  believe!  Come  and  help  me, 
father!" 


1 84  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Mr.  Simpson  forced  Daniel  Downs  to  go  with  him 
as  he  scrambled  over  the  timbers  until  it  was  possible 
to  see  an  apparently  lifeless  form  half  doubled  under 
a  heavy  beam,  and  then,  raising  his  voice  to  the  full 
strength  of  his  lungs,  he  shouted  the  names  of  Sam  and 
Ernest. 

"Aren't  you  going  to  help  me  get  the  poor  fellow 
out?"  Paul  asked  in  sorrowful  surprise. 

"We  will  force  those  to  aid  us  whom  we  have 
hired,  for  you  must  go  down  to  the  cove.  I  towed  the 
old  dory  out  to  the  Hampton  boat;  but  the  craft  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Downs  is  yet  on  the  beach,  and  I  am 
not  minded  any  one  shall  leave  this  island  in  her,  even 
though  Zenas  apparently  stands  in  sore  need  of  help, 
if  indeed  he  is  alive.  It  will  be  a  dark  night's  work 
for  you  and  yours,  Daniel  Downs,  if  real  harm  has 
come  to  the  poor  fellow.  Go  to  the  cove,  Paul,  and 
defend  yourself  with  anything  that  may  come  handy, 
if  you  are  attacked  either  by  strangers  or  those  whom 
you  know.  I  will  attend  to  Zenas." 

Then,  as  Paul  unwillingly  obeyed  this  command, 
Mr.  Simpson  shouted  again  the  names  of  the  boys,  and 
after  a  brief  pause  Paul  could  hear  them  reply  from 
the  direction  of  the  thicket. 

"Come  here  at  once  and  help  your  father!"  Mr. 
Simpson  cried  peremptorily,  and  before  he  had  gained 
his  station  near  Mr.  Downs's  dory,  Paul  could  tell  by 
the  sound  of  voices  that  the  boys  were  at  the  scene  of 
what  must  have  been  foul  play. 

The  lad  believed  a  murder  had  been  committed,  and, 
quite  naturally,  he  was  terrified  in  the  highest  degree. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  185 

He  looked  about  him  for  a  weapon,  feeling  convinced 
that  an  attack  would  speedily  be  made  upon  him  as  on 
Zenas ;  but  could  find  nothing  that  promised  protection 
against  those  who  had  seemingly  been  so  desperate. 

"It  must  have  been  that  the  men  came  upon  him 
while  they  were  sneaking  out  of  the  house,  and,  to  pre- 
vent him  from  giving  an  alarm,  killed  the  poor  fellow," 
he  muttered  to  himself  as  he  searched  in  vain  for  that 
which  would  serve  his  purpose.  Then  it  flashed  across 
his  mind  that  the  purpose  in  sending  him  to  guard  the 
cove  was  to  make  certain  none  of  the  boats  could  be 
used  in  the  escape  that  would  likely  be  attempted,  and 
with  a  sigh  of  relief  he  shoved  Mr.  Downs's  dory  into 
the  water,  leaping  into  her  as  he  pulled  toward  the 
Hampton  boat. 

"I  can  take  care  of  all  three  while  they  are  at  anchor 
in  deep  water,  because  nobody  may  come  near  me  save 
by  swimming,"  he  said,  and  this  thought  served  to 
allay  his  terror  somewhat. 

Coming  alongside  the  Hampton  boat  he  scrambled 
into  her,  after  making  the  dory  fast,  and  then  strained 
his  eyes  into  the  gloom,  striving  to  make  out  what 
might  be  happening  ashore. 

After  what  seemed  a  very  long  while,  during  which 
he  cast  furtive  glances  around,  almost  expecting  that 
those  who  had  attacked  Zenas  would  suddenly  appear 
to  demand  that  he  send  one  of  the  boats  ashore,  Paul 
fancied  it  was  possible  to  see  four  or  five  men  carrying 
a  burden  in  the  direction  of  the  wireless  station,  and 
all  the  old  terror  came  back  to  him,  for  it  was  as  if  he 
had  been  forsaken. 


186  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  had  dimly  seen  the  forms  of 
Sam  and  Ernest  as  they  carried  the  apparently  lifeless 
body  of  Zenas  to  the  shanty  in  accordance  with  Mr. 
Simpson's  orders,  and  were  followed  by  Paul's  father 
only,  Daniel  Downs  having  beat  a  retreat  to  his  own 
home,  muttering  again  and  again  as  he  went,  that  "this 
business  was  none  of  his." 

"It  will  be  credited  to  you  until  the  guilty  parties  are 
run  down,"  Mr.  Simpson  called  after  him,  and  Paul 
could  hear  the  words  distinctly.  "If  there  appears  any 
intention  on  the  part  of  you  or  your  sons  to  disobey 
my  orders  from  this  time  on,  I  will  summon  the  offi- 
cers of  the  law  from  Seaview  to  take  you  into  custody 
on  the  charge  of  murder !" 

It  was  that  word  "murder"  which  caused  Paul  to 
cower  in  the  cockpit  of  the  Hampton  boat,  as  with 
white  and  quivering  lips  he  muttered : 

"If  this  is  the  cost  of  silver  fox  farming,  it  is  better 
that  father  gives  over  trying  to  raise  them,  for  all  the 
animals  that  ever  went  on  four  legs,  no  matter  what 
price  their  pelts  may  bring,  are  not  worth  the  life  of 
Zenas  Gushing." 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  VICTIM 

BELIEVING  Zenas  Gushing  had  been  killed,  knowing 
that  the  two  men  who  had  escaped  from  the  Downs's 
house  were  somewhere  on  the  island  eager  to  reach 
the  mainland,  and  willing,  as  had  already  been  shown, 
to  fight  for  their  liberty,  it  is  little  wonder  that  Paul 
crouched  in  the  cockpit  of  the  Hampton  boat  trembling 
with  fear  while  expecting,  without  quite  understanding 
how  it  might  be  done,  that  those  whom  Daniel  Downs 
had  harbored  would  speedily  make  an  attack  upon  him. 

But  greater  than  the  fear  as  to  his  own  safety,  was 
the  anxiety  concerning  his  father.  He  was  alone  on  the 
island,  one  against  five,  if  so  be  the  Downs  family  and 
their  late  guests  united  forces,  and  all  these  men  had 
good  reason  to  fear  what  might  come  to  them  if  Mr. 
Simpson  was  free  to  work  his  will. 

They  had  been  bold  enough,  these  enemies,  to  strike 
down  Zenas  Gushing  when  they  found  him  spying 
upon  them,  and,  therefore,  so  Paul  asked  himself,  why 
would  they  not  muster  courage  to  put  his  father  be- 
yond all  power  of  inflicting  punishment  upon  them  ? 

The  lad  strained  his  eyes  into  the  gloom  in  the  vain 
effort  to  make  out  what  might  be  happening  ashore; 
his  ears  were  open  for  the  lightest  sound  other  than  the 
moaning  of  the  surf,  the  soft  lip-lip-lipping  of  the 
water  on  the  shore  of  the  cove,  and  the  murmur  of  the 
light  breeze. 

187 


i88  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Nothing  betokening  movement  on  the  land  could  be 
seen  or  heard.  It  was  as  if  Barren  island  had  suddenly 
become  a  little  world  by  itself,  so  far  away  and  so  inac- 
cessible that  Paul  could  never  hope  to  reach  it  again. 
Then,  in  another  instant,  it  was  as  if  the  island  lay  all 
too  near  him;  as  if  those  two  men  who  had,  perhaps, 
murdered  Zenas  Gushing,  might  be  able  to  step  from 
the  beach  to  the  Hampton  boat  before  he  could  raise  a 
hand  in  his  own  defence. 

Thus  suffering  the  mental  agony  which  comes  to 
one  who  has  been  abandoned,  and  again  the  fear  that 
might  beset  him  who  momentarily  expects  to  be  en- 
gaged in  deadly  encounter,  Paul  spent  in  suspense  mo- 
ment after  moment — how  many  he  could  not  have 
said. 

It  might  have  been  half  an  hour  from  the  time  he 
saw  that  shadowy  procession  bearing  Zenas  Gushing 
toward  the  wireless  station,  or  it  may  have  been  ten 
times  as  long,  so  far  as  he  had  any  idea,  when  the  lad 
became  aware  that  some  one  was  approaching  the 
shore  hurriedly,  and  as  if  having  no  care  whether  his 
approach  was  discovered. 

In  Paul's  mind  there  was  no  thought  other  than 
that  this  was  an  enemy  coming  to  take  possession 
of  the  boats,  intending  to  use  whatsoever  force  might 
be  necessary  in  order  to  gain  his  object,  and  in  his 
nervous  fear,  perhaps  having  in  mind  that  "to  be  fore- 
warned is  forearmed,"  he  cried  sharply: 

"Who's  there?" 

"Don't  be  afraid,  Paul.  Come  ashore  in  the  Downs 
dory." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  189 

It  was  his  father's  voice,  and  with  difficulty  did  the 
lad  restrain  himself  from  crying  aloud  because  of  his 
great  joy  and  relief  of  mind. 

In  a  twinkling  he  was  rowing  toward  the  shore,  and 
never  before  had  he  known  a  boat  to  hang  back  un- 
der the  impetus  of  the  oars  as  did  this  one.  To  him 
she  seemed  hardly  to  move  through  the  water  when, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  old  craft  was  dashing  onward 
swiftly,  and  as  her  bow  struck  the  beach  Paul  leaped 
over  the  rail  knee-deep  into  the  water,  so  great  was  his 
eagerness  to  feel  the  touch  of  his  father's  hand — to  be 
encircled  by  his  protecting  arms. 

"It  must  have  been  a  long,  trying  hour  for  you," 
Mr.  Simpson  said  as  he  embraced  his  son  eagerly, 
much  as  though  the  lad  had  passed  through  some  dire 
peril. 

"Has  it  only  been  an  hour,  father?" 

"Not  quite  as  long;  but  I  can  well  fancy  how  slowly 
the  moments  passed." 

"And  Zenas  is  really " 

Paul  could  not  force  himself  to  utter  that  ominous 
word;  but  his  father  finished  the  sentence  in  a  cheery 
tone: 

"He  is  really  alive,  my  boy,  and  not  injured  so 
severely  as  we  had  at  first  reason  to  believe.  He 
evidently  received  a  heavy  blow  on  the  head;  but 
whether  through  the  accident  of  falling  upon  the  tim- 
bers, or  of  being  crushed  beneath  them,  or  again,  if 
one  of  those  men  whom  we  are  striving  to  capture  de- 
liberately struck  him  down,  cannot  yet  be  told,  for  the 
poor  fellow  has  not  really  recovered  consciousness.  I 


190  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

am  of  the  belief,  however,  that  he  is  not  permanently 
disabled." 

"How  did  you  dare  to  leave  him?" 

"The  two  Downs  boys  are  in  the  shanty,  and  so 
thoroughly  terrified  as  to  be  incapable  of  doing  any 
mischief.  In  fact,  I  have  forced  them  to  remain  with 
him,  not  intending  they  shall  have  speech  with  their 
father,  or  with  those  men  who  have  been  hiding  in  the 
dwelling,  until  I  can  be  present  to  hear  what  is  said. 
At  this  moment  they  are  locked  in  the  station,  caring 
for  Zenas." 

"But  they  may  do  him  a  harm,"  Paul  cried,  all  his 
terror  reviving,  and  his  father  said  soothingly : 

"There  is  little  fear  of  their  trying  to  work  further 
trouble.  The  attempt  to  steal  the  foxes,  in  which  they 
undoubtedly  had  a  share,  has  assumed  such  fearsome 
proportions  as  to  terrify  them.  The  question  now  is 
for  us  to  so  arrange  matters  that  we  may  be  very  near 
each  other,  and  yet  guard  the  boats,  which  cannot  be 
brought  about  while  they  remain  here  in  this  cove.  Be- 
sides, you  will  be  needed  in  the  shanty  when  the  time 
comes  to  communicate  with  Seaview." 

"What  can  be  done?"  Paul  asked  helplessly  when 
his  father  ceased  speaking  for  an  instant,  and  Mr. 
Simpson  continued  as  if  plans  for  the  immediate  future 
were  fully  mapped  out  in  his  mind.  "It  is  nearly  high 
water,  and  as  I  understand  from  what  Mr.  Downs 
has  said,  a  craft  even  as  large  as  the  Hampton  dory 
may  be  run  into  Swallow-Tailed  cove  without  danger 
at  such  a  time." 

"But  she  cannot  be  got  out  again  after  the  tide  has 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  IQI 

ebbed  an  hour,"  Paul  interrupted.  "Sam  Downs  told 
me  he  wouldn't  dare  attempt  to  pull  a  dory  in  there  ex- 
cept on  the  height  of  the  tide." 

"So  much  the  better  for  our  purpose,  and  now  the 
question  is  whether  you  can  pilot  her  into  the  cove, 
towing  the  motor  dory  and  Mr.  Downs's  craft?" 

"I  believe  I  can,  sir;  but  how  much  better  off  are  we 
then?" 

"If  Sam  Downs  is  correct  in  his  statement  that  even 
a  small  boat  cannot  be  taken  out  of  there  except  at  high 
water,  it  will  only  be  necessary  for  us  to  stand  guard 
over  the  craft  two  hours  in  every  twelve,  which  will  be 
a  decided  improvement  over  matters  as  they  are  at 
present.  The  motor  boats  can  be  moored  where  they 
may  be  come  at  only  by  swimming,  and  you  and  I 
should  be  able  to  haul  the  Downs  dory  so  far  inland 
that  she  will  remain  in  full  view  of  whoever  may  be  in 
the  shanty.  If  you  are  willing  to  make  the  venture,  and 
I  would  not  propose  it  believing  any  danger  might 
threaten  in  the  work,  it  is  time  you  set  about  it,  for  it 
must  be  nearly  high  water  now." 

"Shall  you  go  back  to  the  shanty,  sir?"  Paul  asked  in 
a  tremulous  tone  as  he  began  pushing  the  boat  off 
into  deeper  water  preparatory  to  scrambling  aboard. 

"I  will  make  sure  that  the  Downs  boys  have  not  re- 
covered from  their  fears  sufficiently  to  leave  the  station, 
and  be  at  the  head  of  Swallow-Tailed  cove  when  you 
arrive." 

By  this  time  Paul  was  pulling  away  from  the  beach 
toward  the  Hampton  dory,  and  Mr.  Simpson  remained 
on  the  shore  only  long  enough  to  see  that  his  son 


192  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

was  safely  aboard  the  largest  craft,  after  which  Paul 
understood  by  the  noise  that  he  was  retracing  his 
steps. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  Paul  would  have 
looked  upon  this  task  as  a  simple  one,  for  he  had,  dur- 
ing the  week  when  he  and  Ned  were  building  the 
shanty,  taken  note  of  the  entrance  to  Swallow-Tailed 
cove  many  a  time  until  he  remembered  the  location  of 
every  rock  which  guarded  the  entrance,  and  there 
would  have  been  no  doubt  in  his  mind  as  to  the  possi- 
bility of  running  in  with  even  a  larger  craft  than  the 
Hampton  boat. 

Now,  however,  with  the  idea  in  his  mind  that  ene 
mies,  who  would  not  hesitate  to  commit  a  murderous 
assault,  were  lurking  on  either  shore  of  the  cove,  he 
trembled  with  anxiety  and  fear  until  it  seemed  almost 
impossible  he  could  raise  the  anchor. 

And  when  that  had  finally  been  done,  and  with  rea- 
sonable alacrity,  although  to  Paul  it  was  as  if  he 
should  never  succeed  in  getting  the  heavy  weight 
aboard,  he  fumbled  at  the  crank  like  one  who  sets  about 
such  a  task  for  the  first  time.  He  cast  many  a  hurried 
glance  toward  the  shore  on  either  side,  fearing  to  see 
those  men  who  had  escaped  from  their  hiding  place  in 
the  farm-house,  come  out  to  make  an  attack  upon  him, 
although  how  that  might  have  been  done  he  could  not 
explain. 

When,  however,  the  Hampton  boat  was  finally  un- 
der way  and  he  could  feel  beneath  him  the  vigorous 
thrust  of  the  screw  as  it  forced  the  craft  swiftly  ahead, 
his  courage  revived  once  more  because  of  the  sense  of 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  193 

freedom  which  came  with  each  stroke  of  the  powerful 
motor. 

The  night  was  not  dark ;  by  the  light  of  the  stars  he 
could  see  clearly  the  shore  on  either  hand,  and  once  out 
of  the  cove  the  journey  around  to  the  northern  end  of 
the  island  was  a  short  one. 

Standing  well  off  from  the  land  in  order  that  he 
might  make  a  wide  turn,  he  headed  the  boat  directly 
in  toward  that  point  where  he  could  see  his  father's 
form  outlined  dimly  in  the  gloom,  and  slowing  down 
to  half  speed  as  he  entered  the  dangerous  channel,  he 
came  to  anchor  when  he  was  as  nearly  as  could  be  in 
the  center  of  the  small  harbor. 

The  old  dory  was  left  moored  alongside  the  Hamp- 
ton boat,  and  in  Mr.  Downs's  well-worn  craft  Paul 
pulled  ashore,  after  which  he  and  his  father,  by  dint  of 
severe  exertions,  succeeded  in  hauling  her  a  full  hun- 
dred feet  beyond  high-water  mark  in  the  direction  of 
the  station. 

"It  will  be  impossible  for  any  two  men  to  launch  her 
without  our  hearing  them,"  Mr.  Simpson  said,  speak- 
ing for  the  first  time  since  his  son  had  come  ashore. 
"We  will  go  to  the  shanty  now,  and  remember  that  it 
is  my  purpose  to  keep  Sam  and  Ernest  away  from  their 
father  during  the  night.  Therefore,  in  case  you  see 
either  of  them  attempting  to  go  toward  the  farm-house, 
you  must  give  an  alarm." 

"Can  Zenas  tell  anything  about  what  happened, 
sir?" 

"So  far  I  have  made  no  attempt  at  questioning  him. 
He  appears  to  be  conscious,  but  does  not  speak.  Medi- 


194  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

cal  attendance  is  necessary,  and  if  you  can  communi- 
cate with  Ned  Bartlett,  tell  him  to  send  a  physician  at 
once." 

All  this  Mr.  Simpson  said  while  he  and  his  son  were 
walking  toward  the  shanty,  and  then,  taking  a  key 
from  his  pocket,  he  unlocked  the  door  of  the  rude  build- 
ing, thus  revealing  the  interior,  where  could  be  seen 
Zenas  laying  upon  the  bed  with  wide-open  eyes  star- 
ing at  the  roof,  while  crouching  against  the  wall  op- 
posite the  bunk  were  Sam  and  Ernest,  silent  and 
motionless,  apparently  so  terrified  as  to  be  almost  help- 
less. 

Indeed  there  was  good  reason  for  their  terror,  if  all 
that  Mr.  Simpson  and  Paul  suspected  were  true.  The 
boys,  as  well  as  their  father,  had  had  a  hand  in  bring- 
ing to  the  island  the  two  strangers,  and  in  keeping 
them  concealed.  If  Zenas  had  been  stricken  down  by 
one  of  these  fellows  who  was  making  his  way  from  the 
house  to  gain  the  shelter  of  the  woods,  then  would  the 
entire  Downs  family  be  involved,  so  far  as  the  officers 
of  the  law  might  look  at  it,  in  the  assault.  In  case  it 
proved  fatal,  the  results  must  be  very  serious  for  all 
concerned. 

Paul  stepped  directly  to  the  side  of  the  bunk,  and, 
taking  Zenas'  hands  in  his,  asked  softly : 

"Do  you  know  me,  old  man?" 

The  only  reply  was  a  mild  pressure  of  the  fingers, 
and  a  movement  of  the  eyes  as  they  rested  for  an  in- 
stant upon  the  lad. 

"Has  he  spoken  since  I  went  out?"  Mr.  Simpson 
asked  of  the  Downs  boys,  and  Sam  replied: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  195 

"He  has  stayed  jest  that  way  ever  since  we've  been 
here." 

The  manager  of  Silver  Fox  Farm  was  at  a  loss  to 
know  what  should  be  done  for  the  sufferer.  Zenas  did 
not  appear  to  be  in  any  pain,  and  yet  it  seemed  positive 
the  injury  was  severe,  otherwise  he  would  have  made 
an  effort  to  explain  how  it  had  been  inflicted.  Noth- 
ing might  be  done,  however,  until  medical  aid  arrived 
from  the  mainland,  and  many  hours  must  elapse,  even 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  before  a  physi- 
cian could  come. 

"Can  we  go  home?"  Ernest  asked  when  Paul  had 
turned  aside  from  the  semi-conscious  man  to  set  the  ap- 
paratus in  readiness  for  use,  that  he  might  begin  calling 
Ned  at  the  earliest  moment  there  was  any  possibility 
of  his  being  in  the  Seaview  station. 

"You  are  to  remain  here  until  daylight,"  was  Mr. 
Simpson's  reply. 

"What's  the  reason  we  can't  go  to  bed?" 

"Because  I  intend  that  the  first  interview  with  your 
father  shall  be  in  my  presence." 

At  that  moment  the  door  was  opened  timidly,  as  if 
he  who  stood  on  the  outside  was  uncertain  what  might 
be  his  reception,  and  looking  around  wonderingly,  Paul 
saw  Farmer  Downs,  pale,  trembling,  and  evidently  in 
as  high  a  state  of  fear  as  were  his  sons. 

"Well,  what  do  you  want?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  in 
a  tone  of  anger,  and  Daniel  Downs  replied  in  a  quaver- 
ing voice: 

"I've  come  to  see  why  the  boys  ain't  at  home,  or 
standin'  watch  'cordin'  to  the  bargain  we  made." 


196  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"I  have  kept  them  here  because  of  not  being  willing 
you  and  they  should  get  alone  together  and  concoct  a 
story  concerning  this  night's  work." 

"What  story  have  we  got  to  tell?"  Mr.  Downs  asked 
whiningly.  "We  didn't  see  anythin'  more'n  you  did. 
Zenas  Gushing  must  have  been  foolin'  'round  the  tim- 
bers of  the  old  buildin',  and  fell  in  among  them,  pullin' 
one  down  on  his  head,  I  reckon." 

"That's  the  way  you  have  decided  to  explain  it,  eh?" 
and  Paul's  father  stood  directly  in  front  of  Farmer 
Downs  so  that  he  might  not  signal  to  the  boys  with 
his  eyes. 

"That's  all  there  is  to  be  told.  I  was  in  the  house, 
an'  Sam  an'  Ernest  out  on  watch  when  the  thing  must 
have  been  done." 

"I  admit  you  were  inside ;  but  what  about  those  who 
remained  concealed  in  your  attic  since  day  before  yes- 
terday?" 

"Who  do  you  mean?"  and  now  Mr.  Downs  tried  un- 
successfully to  appear  both  surprised  and  innocent ;  but 
Paul  took  note  that  his  face  grew  a  shade  more  pale, 
if  indeed  that  could  be  possible,  and  his  lips  trembled 
as  do  those  of  one  who  is  afflicted  with  palsy. 

"Now,  Daniel  Downs,  don't  attempt  to  play  the  in- 
nocent with  me,  for  I  know  very  much  more  than  you 
think,"  Mr.  Simpson  began  sternly,  forcing  the  old 
farmer  to  look  directly  at  him.  "In  the  first  place, 
Zenas,  Paul  and  I  saw  the  schooner  come  into  the  cove, 
and  were  on  watch  under  your  upturned  dory  when 
three  men  came  ashore.  Paul  and  .1  followed  them, 
leaving  Zenas  on  guard  at  the  cove.  The  lad  and  I 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  197 

stood  in  your  woodshed  immediately  after  the  three 
entered  the  house,  and  a  few  moments  later  saw  one 
of  them  come  out  and  go  toward  the  shore.  Zenas  was 
on  the  alert  when  this  fellow  pulled  off  to  the  schooner, 
after  which  she  was  gotten  under  way  at  once.  The 
next  morning  she  put  into  Seaview,  having  lost 
her  topmast  during  the  night,  and  there  is  where 
your  plans  for  working  me  an  injury  have  gone 
awry." 

"I  haven't  had  any  plan  to  do  you  harm,"  Mr. 
Downs  cried,  and  Mr.  Simpson  replied  with  yet  more 
of  sternness  in  his  tones : 

"It  is  useless  to  make  denials,  for  I  am  thoroughly 
conversant  with  all  that  has  happened.  I  can  even 
give  you  an  outline  of  the  plan.  It  was  your  pur- 
pose, and  the  purpose  of  those  who  visited  you,  that 
they  remain  hiding  in  the  attic  over  the  kitchen  until 
nightfall,  when  they  were  to  make  their  way  into  the 
woods,  and,  during  the  following  day,  endeavor  to  get 
hold  of  the  foxes.  The  schooner  was  to  return  that 
night,  heaving  to  somewhere  off  the  coast,  if  her  cap- 
tain did  not  dare  to  sail  directly  into  the  cove,  and  take 
off  these  men  with  their  plunder.  The  loss  of  the  top- 
mast prevented  the  craft  from  returning  according  to 
agreement,  and  I  kept  the  men  in  their  hiding  place  by 
pretending  to  be  sick.  This  afternoon  I  concluded  it 
was  time  to  let  them  show  their  hands,  and  we  three 
were  on  watch,  Zenas  amid  the  ruins  of  the  building 
a  short  distance  from  the  woodshed.  Paul  and  I  failed 
to  see  the  skulkers,  but  this  poor  fellow  must  have  con- 
fronted them  as  they  went  out  of  the  house  screened 


198  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

by  your  wife,  who  professed  to  be  wanting  fuel,  and 
they  struck  him  down  as  you  have  seen." 

"How  can  you  accuse  me,  Mr.  Simpson,  of  havin' 
anythin'  to  do  with  such  a  thing  as  that,  when  I  stayed 
right  in  the  house  from  the  time  you  went  out  till  Zenas 
Gushing  was  found?" 

"I  am  not  charging  that  you  had  an  active  hand  in 
it,  Daniel  Downs;  but  you  were  concerned  in  the  en- 
tire plot,  and  remaining  indoors  during  the  time  the 
assault  was  made  doesn't  relieve  you  of  guilt  in  the 
matter.  Unless  you  had  consented  to  aid  those  who 
would  steal  the  foxes,  they  could  not  have  remained 
hidden  in  your  house.  If  you  had  been  an  honest  man, 
you  would  have  reported  to  me  immediately  they  came, 
telling  what  was  on  foot.  Instead  of  which  you  did  all 
within  your  power  to  keep  them  concealed,  and  your 
wife  aided  in  their  effort  to  leave  the  dwelling  to  take 
refuge  in  the  thicket.  It  was  a  scurvy  piece  of  business, 
Daniel  Downs,  and  from  many  a  point  of  view  a  de- 
cided mistake  on  your  part,  since  if  it  had  been  possible 
for  them  to  gather  in  the  six  foxes,  they  would  have  re- 
ceived a  comparatively  small  amount  of  money  for  the 
pelts,  because  furs  taken  during  the  summer  season  are 
of  little  value,  and  all  that  could  be  gained  by  the  trans- 
action must  have  been  divided  among  the  crew  of  the 
schooner  and  yourself.  In  other  words,  you  stood 
ready  to  sell  me,  who  would  have  paid  you  and  your 
sons  good  wages  during  three,  four  or  five  years,  for 
the  paltry  share  that  would  be  yours  if  the  venture  was 
a  success,  and  there  were  many  chances  that  your  con- 
federates couldn't  secure  even  a  single  animal." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  199 

Mr.  Downs  made  no  reply.  He  stood  with  downcast 
eyes  the  picture  of  guilt,  as  Paul  believed,  and  while 
one  might  have  counted  twenty  no  sound  save  the 
heavy  breathing  of  the  poachers'  victim  could  be 
heard. 

Then  the  farmer  asked  humbly,  and  in  a  voice  so 
tremulous  that  it  was  only  with  difficulty  the  words 
could  be  understood : 

"What  are  you  goin'  to  do  with  me?" 

"That's  a  question  which  is  troubling  me  not  a  lit- 
tle," Mr.  Simpson  replied.  "In  the  first  place,  we  must 
learn  how  severely  Zenas  is  injured,  and  to  that  end  a 
physician  will  be  sent  for  as  soon  as  the  wireless  sta- 
tion at  Seaview  is  in  working  order.  I  have  done  what 
I  might  to  prevent  those  friends  of  yours,  who  are  in 
the  woods,  from  leaving  the  island,  and  shall  take  yet 
more  vigorous  measures.  At  the  present  I  am  inclined 
to  send  word  to  the  sheriff,  asking  him  to  come  here 
with  a  posse  of  men  to  capture  those  who  may  soon  be 
charged  with  murder.  However,  that  question  cannot 
be  decided  until  we  know  how  seriously  Zenas  is  hurt." 

"Surely  you  won't  be  hard  on  an  old  man  who  has 
tried  to  live  up  to  the  bargain  he  made " 

"Don't  attempt  to  use  any  such  arguments  as  that, 
Daniel  Downs,"  Paul's  father  cried  sharply.  "From 
the  very  first  you  and  your  sons  have  neglected  your 
duty,  and  were  seemingly  careless  whether  my  instruc- 
tions were  carried  out  to  the  letter  or  not.  Finally  you 
joined  with  the  villains  who  are  in  hiding,  to  wreck  my 
venture  in  foxes." 

"I  didn't  really  know  what  I  was  doin',  Mr.  Simp- 


200  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

son,  indeed  I  didn't,"  Mr.  Downs  wailed,  and  Sam 
added  in  a  sniveling  tone : 

"Father  couldn't  help  takin'  in  John  Ed  Bingham 
when  he  came  to  the  house  that  night,  else  he  would 
have  stood  a  chance  of  gettin'  himself  into  terrible 
trouble." 

"Then  that  notorious  old  smuggler  is  one  of  the  two 
who  are  hiding  in  the  thicket?"  Mr.  Simpson  cried, 
and  Farmer  Downs  nodded  his  head  feebly. 

A  low  moan  from  Zenas  caused  Mr.  Simpson  to  step 
quickly  to  the  side  of  the  bunk,  when  the  injured  man 
asked  in  a  fairly  steady  voice  for  water. 

There  was  in  the  shanty  only  the  small  quantity  re- 
maining from  what  Paul  had  brought  in  the  morning, 
and  not  willing  to  give  the  sick  man  water  which  had 
been  drawn  so  long,  Mr.  Simpson  said  to  Sam: 

"Go  to  your  home,  and  fill  that  pail  from  the  well. 
Come  back  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  see  to  it  that  you 
do  not  hold  converse  with  any  person." 

Sam  hurried  out  of  the  building  as  if  overjoyed  at 
the  opportunity  of  escape,  even  for  a  few  moments, 
from  his  angry  employer,  and  Paul  leaned  over  the 
smuggler's  victim  to  ask: 

"Can't  you  speak  a  word,  Zenas  ?" 

To  the  lad's  great  surprise  the  injured  man  whis- 
pered softly: 

"Not  while  those  Downs  scoundrels  are  'round  to 
hear,"  and  having  said  this  he  continued  to  stare  va- 
cantly at  the  roof  above  him. 

Rejoicing  at  this  evidence  that  he  whom  they  had 
believed  'to  be  so  dangerously  wounded  was  shamming 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  201 

to  a  certain  extent,  Paul  beckoned  for  his  father  to  fol- 
low him  out  of  the  shanty,  and  having  walked  so  far 
away  that  there  was  no  possibility  Ernest  and  Mr. 
Downs  could  overhear  that  which  was  said,  the  lad  re- 
peated what  had  been  whispered. 

"I  have  suspected  it,"  Mr.  Simpson  said  in  a  tone  of 
relief.  "Zenas  has  looked  at  me  several  times  in  a 
meaning  way  when  the  boys  were  where  they  could  not 
see  him.  I  had  believed  it  necessary  to  keep  the  lads 
until  morning,  for  there  was  no  thought  in  my  mind 
that  Downs  might  come  here.  Now  that  we've  had  an 
interview  with  him,  and  he  and  his  sons  have  the  same 
as  admitted  all  which  we  had  good  reason  for  suspect- 
ing, it  will  not  profit  us  to  have  them  in  the  station  any 
longer.  When  Sam  comes  back  with  the  water  I'll 
send  them  home." 

Sam  returned  to  the  shanty  with  his  pail  filled  in  a 
shorter  time  than  Paul  had  believed  one  could  walk  to 
the  farm-house,  and  by  so  doing  proved  beyond  a 
peradventure  that  he  was  woefully  frightened,  if  not 
repentant. 

He  had  had  time  to  realize  how  much  his  father,  his 
brother  and  himself  had  risked  on  the  chance  of  getting 
a  few  dollars  in  case  John  Ed  Bingham  was  successful 
in  capturing  and  killing  the  foxes,  and  if  there  was 
anything  like  sorrow  in  his  heart  because  of  what  had 
been  done,  it  was  induced  by  the  knowledge  that  the 
trade  with  the  old  smuggler  was  a  very  one-sided  af- 
fair, where  one  party  had  everything  to  gain  and  the 
other  everything  to  lose,  even  if  the  venture  was  carried 
out  beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations. 


202 

Paul  and  his  father  followed  Sam  into  the  shanty, 
and  after  a  generous  draft  of  water  had  been  given  to 
the  pretending  invalid,  Mr.  Simpson  turned  to  face  the 
farmer. 

"Do  you  know  where  Bingham  and  his  friend 
counted  on  hiding  during  this  coming  day?"  he  asked 
sternly,  and  Mr.  Downs  shook  his  head  vehemently  as 
he  replied  earnestly: 

"Indeed  I  don't,  sir,  indeed  I  don't.  It  was  only 
their  idee  to  get  out  of  the  house,  for  it  was  bitterly  hot 
in  the  attic  over  the  kitchen;  and  then  again  they 
wanted  to  be  at  their  work  so's  everything  might  be 
ready  when  the  schooner  came  back.  Nothin'  was  said 
about  where  they'd  hide." 

"They  counted,  however,  upon  your  supplying  them 
with  food?" 

"Yes,  sir/'  Ernest  replied  promptly.  "We  were  to 
take  provisions  up  to  the  spring,  where  you  told  us  to 
leave  fish  for  the  foxes." 

"And  did  you  carry  any  there  to-night?" 

"No  more  than  would  serve  for  supper." 

Mr.  Simpson  stood  as  if  in  deep  thought  an  instant, 
and  then  said,  addressing  himself  to  Mr.  Downs : 

"I  am  not  making  any  promises ;  but  there  is  a  pos- 
sibility that  you  may  escape  just  punishment  by  obey- 
ing me  faithfully  from  now  on." 

"We'll  do  anythin'  you  tell  us,  Mr.  Simpson;  any- 
thin*  on  this  blessed  earth  that  you  say  shall  be  done." 

"Then  here  are  my  orders,  and  if  I  find  that  you  are 
departing  from  them  even  in  the  slightest  particular  I 
promise  to  turn  you  and  your  sons  over  to  the  officers 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  203 

of  the  law,  not  only  on  the  charge  of  conspiring  to 
steal  the  foxes,  but  as  aiding  and  abetting  in  an  at- 
tempt to  commit  murder.  You  may  go  home ;  none  of 
the  family  are  to  venture  out  of  doors,  save  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  wood  and  water,  without  my  per- 
mission. When  Bingham  and  his  friend  come  for 
food,  as  they  unquestionably  will  by  to-morrow  noon 
if  you  fail  to  carry  anything  to  the  spring  in  the  morn- 
ing, you  are  to  refuse  it,  and  endeavor,  if  possible,  to 
let  me  know  of  their  whereabouts.  Not  so  much  as  a 
crust  of  bread  are  they  to  be  provided  with,  and  hark 
you,  Daniel  Downs,  I  won't  trust  to  your  promises 
again,  for  you  have  shown  me  how  worthless  they  may 
be ;  but  I  count  on  keeping  watch,  and  if  I  know  of  your 
holding  communication  in  any  way  with  those  fellows 
who  are  now  in  the  woods,  or  of  your  providing  them 
with  the  smallest  morsel  of  food,  charges  will  be  pre- 
ferred against  you.  Remember,  we  can  summon  the 
sheriff  by  wireless,  and  have  him  here  within  two 
hours.  Therefore  you  will  be  acting  the  part  of  a  wiser 
man  than  you  have  yet  shown  yourself  to  be,  if  you  live 
up  strictly  to  my  instructions." 

Then  Mr.  Downs  and  his  two  sons  made  noisy  prom- 
ises, as  if  thinking  that  by  loud  speaking  they  could 
the  better  convince  the  hearers  of  their  intended  hon- 
esty, and  after  each  had  solemnly  sworn  to  obey  to  the 
letter  all  the  commands  that  had  been  given,  and  to  do 
whatsoever  should  be  required  of  him  in  the  future, 
Mr.  Simpson,  still  speaking  in  an  angry  tone,  said : 

"Very  well.  You  may  gfo  to  your  home,  and  there 
you  will  tell  your  wife  what  has  been  said  in  this 


204  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

shanty.  Make  her  understand  exactly  what  will  hap- 
pen if  I  see  any  of  you  out  of  doors  save  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  wood  or  water.  She  is  to  provide  the 
meals  as  usual,  and " 

"We  shall  go  on  short  allowance  if  some  of  us  don't 
catch  fish." 

"I  will  provide  you  with  provisions  until  such  time 
as  it  pleases  me  to  let  you  roam  about  the  island  at  will. 
Now  go,  and  remember." 

Mr.  Simpson  watched  from  the  door  of  the  shanty 
until  the  forms  of  the  farmer  and  his  sons  were  lost  to 
view  in  the  gloom,  and  then,  turning  toward  the  pre- 
tended invalid,  he  said: 

"Now  then,  Zenas,  how  badly  are  you  hurt?" 

In  an  instant  the  smuggler's  victim  was  sitting  up- 
right, his  legs  hanging  over  the  edge  of  the  bunk,  as 
he  replied  in  a  cheery  tone: 

"I  can't  say  that  I've  come  out  of  it  in  first-class 
shape,  Mr.  Simpson;  but  I  am  allowin'  the  worst  is 
over.  That  scoundrelly  John  Ed  did  hit  me  a  tidy  clip 
on  the  head  for  a  fact,  an'  I  didn't  get  much  of  an  idea 
of  what  might  be  goin'  on  till  about  the  time  when  you 
began  to  bring  me  up  here.  Then  I  reckon  the  shakin' 
kind'er  brought  me  around;  but  I  allowed  it  was  best 
to  hold  off  as  if  I'd  been  knocked  completely  out  until 
such  time  as  you  could  settle  matters.  An'  that's  what 
I  was  trying'  to  make  you  understand  when  I  got 
the  chance  to  look  your  way  without  bein'  seen, 
sir." 

"Are  you  feeling  fairly  well  now?" 

"Well,  my  head  is  buzzin'  like  a  top,  an'  there's  a 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  205 

misery  in  it  that  pulls  out  a  groan  now  an'  then;  but 
it'll  be  all  right  by  daylight,  I  reckon." 

"Tell  us  how  it  happened." 

"That  won't  be  much  of  a  story,  'cause  it  was  all 
over  so  quickly  I  didn't  get  time  to  move  around  very 
lively.  I  hid  among  the  timbers  all  right,  'cordin'  as 
had  been  agreed  upon,  an'  had  a  first-class  chance  for 
seein'  if  anybody  came  from  the  house.  When  the  old 
woman  slipped  out  to  the  shed,  with  John  Ed  an'  an- 
other man  crouchin'  close  by  her  side  so's  they  couldn't 
be  seen  by  you  who  was  layin'  on  the  grass  'twixt  the 
cove  an'  the  house,  I  had  a  full  view  of  'em.  They 
came  straight  toward  me,  an'  somehow  I  got  it  into  my 
mind  that  that  villain  of  a  smuggler  knew  where  I  was. 
Up  I  jumps  when  they  was  less  than  six  feet  from  me, 
an'  I  could  see  that  it  give  'em  quite  a  jolt,  'cause  they 
wasn't  expecting  to  find  any  one  among  that  'ere  lum- 
ber. What  it  was  John  Ed  had  in  his  hand  I  can't 
make  out,  an'  I've  been  puzzlin'  over  it  all  the  while 
I've  been  layin'  here  pretendin'  to  be  used  up.  Quick- 
er'n  a  flash  he  give  me  a  clip  with  something  that  sent 
the  stars  shootin'  out  of  my  eyes,  an'  I  must  have  gone 
down  like  a  log.  That's  all  I  know  about  it,  sir,  until 
I  came  to  my  senses  while  them  Downs  boys  was  lug- 
gin'  me  here." 


CHAPTER  XII 

A  CONFESSION 

IF  Zenas  had  been  allowed  to  follow  his  own  in- 
clinations he  would  have  gone  out  at  once  to  do  guard 
duty,  for  now  that  the  Downs  family  were  the  same 
as  imprisoned  in  their  home,  it  was  absolutely  neces-« 
sary  even  a  stricter  watch  than  before  should  be  kept 
in  order  to  prevent  the  men  who  were  hiding  in  the 
thicket  from  escaping. 

"I  believe  it  will  be  better  for  you  to  continue  to 
play  the  invalid  a  few  hours  longer,"  Mr.  Simpson  said 
when  the  proposition  was  made  by  Zenas.  "While 
Daniel  Downs  and  his  sons  believe  you  to  be  on  the 
verge  of  death  it  will  be  easier  to  hold  them  in  at 
least  partial  subjection.  With  the  boats  in  the  cove 
where  we  can  keep  them  under  our  eyes,  I  fail  to  see 
how  that  old  reprobate  and  his  friend  will  be  able  to 
make  their  escape.  Stay  snugly  here,  Zenas,  getting 
into  the  bunk  in  case  you  hear  any  of  the  Downs  fam- 
ily approaching,  although  I  do  not  fancy  there  is  much 
chance  they  will  venture  out  very  soon,  and  keep  the 
door  open  so  that  you  may  have  a  view  of  the  cove. 
Paul  and  I  will  make  the  circuit  of  the  island,  return- 
ing here  before  it  is  time  for  him  to  communicate  with 
Seaview." 

"Have  a  care  of  yourself,  Mr.  Simpson,"  Zenas  said 
warningly.  "John  Ed  Bingham  won't  hesitate  at 
doin'  anythin'  whatsoever,  if  it  appears  to  him  that  he's 

206 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  207 

likely  to  be  taken  prisoner,  an'  of  that  we've  already 
had  good  proof." 

"Don't  fear  for  us,"  Paul's  father  replied  carelessly. 
"I  am  not  anticipating  any  serious  trouble  with  Bing- 
ham ;  but  if  it  should  so  chance  that  we  meet,  you  may 
be  certain  he  won't  have  an  opportunity  to  deal  me 
such  a  blow  as  he  did  you." 

Then,  beckoning  for  his  son  to  follow,  Mr.  Simpson 
went  out  into  the  night,  directing  his  steps  first  toward 
the  northerly  point  of  the  cove  in  front  of  the  farm- 
house, and.  skirting  the  entire  shore,  continuing  on  to 
the  southerly  end  of  the  island,  although  knowing  it 
was  well-nigh  impossible  even  for  a  dory  to  effect  a 
landing  there. 

"Don't  you  count  on  trying  to  see  the  foxes  pretty 
soon,  father?"  Paul  asked  when  they  were  come  to 
the  easterly  side  of  the  thicket  without  having  seen 
any  signs  of  the  two  men. 

"It  is  enough  for  me  that  the  animals  are  here. 
Foxes  don't  take  kindly  to  water,  you  know,  therefore 
there  is  no  danger  of  their  swimming  away,  and  the 
less  they  are  disturbed  the  better  it  will  be  for  our 
scheme." 

"John  Ed  Bingham  will  most  likely  stir  them  up  a 
good  deal,"  Paul  suggested. 

"I'm  not  afraid  of  what  he  may  do  immediately. 
Certain  it  is  he  won't  have  an  opportunity  of  disturb- 
ing them  this  night,  and  his  first  thought  in  the  rporn- 
ing  will  be  to  procure  more  food.  When  he  finds  that 
Mr.  Downs  refuses  to  supply  him,  or,  in  other  words, 
that  we  have  succeeded  in  frightening  the  old  fellow 


208  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

most  thoroughly,  John  Ed  Bingham  will,  unless  he  is 
more  foolish  than  I  have  ever  supposed  him  to  be, 
hatch  some  scheme  for  getting  away  from  the  island. 
Therefore  it  is  that  I  shall  not  be  seriously  alarmed  re- 
garding the  animals  during  the  next  four  and  twenty 
hours." 

"And  then  you  count  on  capturing  the  men?" 

"I  shall  put  forth  every  effort  to  that  end,  because 
it  is  in  the  highest  degree  necessary,  if  we  are  to  con- 
tinue the  work  of  raising  foxes,  that  those  who  first  at- 
tempted to  do  us  an  injury  be  made  to  suffer  all  the 
penalties  of  the  law  that  can  be  inflicted." 

"Do  you  believe  that  we  three  can  make  prisoners  of 
those  two  men?"  Paul  asked  doubtfully,  and  his  father 
replied  with  a  laugh : 

"I  am  of  the  belief  that  we  can  once  their  hunger  has 
become  serious;  therefore,  nearly  everything  depends 
upon  keeping  Daniel  Downs  and  his  family  strictly 
to  our  programme.  If  they  should  play  false  a  second 
time,  Bingham  and  his  friend  might  succeed  in  out- 
witting us." 

"And  you  have  every  reason  to  believe  they  will 
play  you  false,  sir,  because  of  their  fear  of  John  Ed 
Bingham." 

"I  am  reckoning  their  fear  of  the  law  will  outweigh 
that  old  smuggler's  influence;  yet  at  the  same  time  I 
do  not  intend  to  give  them  the  chance  for  treachery.  As 
soon  as  day  dawns  the  chief  portion  of  our  work  will  be 
to  make  certain  the  entire  family  remains  within  doors." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  quickened  his  pace,  as  if  in  haste 
to  arrive  at  the  wireless  station,  and  Paul  followed  at 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  209 

his  heels,  doubting  much  whether  his  father  would  be 
able  to  carry  out  the  proposed  plan  unless  assistance 
was  summoned  from  the  mainland. 

During  the  walk  around  the  island  no  signs  of  the 
two  men  who  were  in  hiding  had  been  seen,  nor  was 
there  anything  on  the  shore  which  might  aid  them  in 
escaping,  save  at  Swallow-Tailed  cove,  where  it  surely 
seemed  that  whoever  remained  at  the  station  could 
guard  the  boats  securely. 

Zenas  was  in  the  bunk,  his  eyes  wide  open  and  star- 
ing at  the  ceiling  when  Paul  and  his  father  entered,  and 
immediately  afterward  he  sprang  to  his  feet  with  that 
purring  laughter  of  his,  as  he  said  in  a  low  tone: 

"I  wasn't  quite  sure  but  that  the  old  man  Downs 
might  have  taken  it  into  his  head  to  come  over  here, 
an'  you  should  have  seen  me  scramble  to  get  into  the 
proper  position  for  a  man  whose  life  has  been  about 
half  beaten  out  of  him.  Did  you  see  or  hear  anythin'  ?" 

"I  didn't  expect  we  would  come  across  the  worthy 
Mr.  Bingham,  but  made  the  circuit  of  the  island  more 
for  the  purpose  of  assuring  myself  there  were  no  means 
by  which  he  could  get  away,  save  here  at  the  cove," 
Mr.  Simpson  replied  as  he  seated  himself  in  Paul's 
chair  with  the  air  of  one  who  is  weary  to  the  verge 
of  exhaustion. 

"And  everythin'  seems  to  be  pretty  nigh  straight, 
does  it,  sir?" 

"So  far  as  can  be  told  in  the  darkness.  Our  chief 
concern  just  now  is  to  make  certain  that  neither  Mr. 
Downs  nor  any  member  of  his  family  provides  the  two 
men  with  food." 


2io  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"That  same  thing  was  runnin'  through  my  mind 
while  you  were  away,"  Zenas  said  thoughtfully  and 
with  an  expression  of  anxiety  on  his  face.  "It  strikes 
me  if  I  am  to  stay  cooped  up  in  this  'ere  shanty  to-mor- 
row in  order  to  make  out  that  I'm  mighty  nigh  dead, 
there's  nothin'  to  prevent  my  doin'  some  work  to-night, 
so's  you  two  can  get  a  little  sleep.  I  don't  reckon 
you're  allowin'  it  will  be  possible  to  keep  awake  more 
than  four  an'  twenty  hours  on  a  stretch." 

"We  shall  need  to  gain  some  rest  soon ;  but  it  seems 
to  me  better  that  you  be  kept  out  of  sight  for  a  time, 
because  of  the  hold  we  shall  thereby  have  on  Daniel 
Downs  and  his  sons." 

"I'll  agree  with  you  in  that,  sir,"  Zenas  replied  heart- 
ily ;  "but  what's  to  hinder  my  playin'  watchman  while 
it's  dark?  I'll  circle  'round  the  house,  keepin'  this  'ere 
cove  in  sight  so  long's  the  tide's  high  enough  for  'em 
to  get  a  boat  out,  an'  they  never'll  be  any  the  wiser  as 
to  who  I  am.  Believin'  I'm  knocked  out  of  time, 
they'll  naturally  suppose,  seem'  somebody  'round  the 
farm-house,  that  it's  one  of  you,  an'  there'll  be  no 
harm  done  to  the  scheme/' 

"It's  a  good  idea,  Zenas,"  Mr.  Simpson  said  after 
a  moment's  thought.  "Paul  and  I  will  gather  in 
what  sleep  may  be  possible  between  now  and  daybreak. 
You  are  to  waken  us  as  soon  as  the  night  grows 
gray." 

Then  the  owner  of  Silver  Fox  Farm  laid  himself 
down  on  the  bed  just  vacated  by  Zenas,  and  Paul  nes- 
tled close  by  his  side,' as  indeed  was  necessary  if  two 
occupied  that  narrow  resting  place. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  211 

Zenas  went  about  his  duty  of  standing  guard,  deter- 
mined that  no  member  of  the  Downs  family  should 
leave  the  farm-house  without  his  knowledge,  and  pre- 
paring himself  for  a  possible  encounter  with  John  Ed 
Bingham  by  cutting  from  a  clump  of  saplings  a  stout 
stick,  which  would  serve  either  as  cane  or  cudgel  as 
might  be  desired. 

It  seemed  to  Paul  as  if  he  had  but  just  fallen  asleep 
when  the  watchman  awakened  him  and  his  father  with 
the  information  that  day  was  breaking. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant,  under- 
standing that  now  was  come  the  time  when  the  smug- 
gler and  his  friend  might  attempt  to  approach  the 
farm-house  in  order  to  lay  plans  for  the  future  with 
Mr.  Downs,  and  he  asked  hurriedly : 

"Have  you  kept  watch  over  the  house?" 

"Ay,  that  I  have,"  Zenas  replied  in  a  tone  of  satis- 
faction. "I'll  answer  for  it  that  even  a  cat  couldn't 
have  gone  in  or  out  without  my  knowin'  it.  You  see, 
as  soon  as  the  tide  was  about  half-ebb  there  was  no 
need  of  keepin'  an  eye  on  the  cove,  so  I  moved  'round 
the  buildin's  all  the  time,  wishin'  for  my  own  satis- 
faction that  that  scoundrel  of  a  John  Ed  Bingham 
might  show  himself.  I'm  allowin'  if  he  an'  I  ever  do 
come  together  agin  there'll  be  little  need  for  you  to 
worry  about  what  he  can  do  afterward." 

"You  are  to  stay  here,  pretending  to  be  unconscious 
if  any  one  comes.  Paul  is  to  follow  me,  and  one  or  the 
other  of  us  will  return  with  something  in  the  way  of 
breakfast  for  you." 

"Don't  put  yourself  out  too  much  about  that  part  of 


212  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

it,  so  far's  I'm  concerned,  'cause  while  things  are  as 
they  are  on  this  blessed  island,  I  can  get  along  on 
mighty  short  allowance  rather  than  have  you  take  any 
chances." 

"You  shan't  starve/'  Mr.  Simpson  replied  laugh- 
ingly, and  when  Paul  had  followed  him  out  of  the 
shanty  he  said  in  a  low  tone,  "If  I  could  find  two  or 
three  men  as  ready  to  guard  my  interests  as  is  Zenas 
Gushing,  there  would  be  no  fear  in  my  mind  whatso- 
ever but  that  Silver  Fox  Farm  might  be  made  to  pay 
large  returns  on  the  investment." 

"It  should  be  possible  to  do  so,  sir." 

"Yes,  save  that  just  now  I  am  tied  down  to  the  isl- 
and and  cannot  make  other  arrangements.  It  was  un- 
fortunate that  I  had  so  much  confidence  in  Daniel 
Downs." 

"But  he  may  turn  around  from  this  out,  and  do  ex- 
actly as  you  would  have  him,  now  he  has  learned  that 
you  are  not  to  be  trifled  with." 

"That  is  true,  my  boy;  but  yet  I  shall  always  be 
suspicious  regarding  his  integrity.  When  a  man  or  a 
boy  does  one  wrong  act  he  has  destroyed  the  confidence 
of  others,  no  matter  how  repentant  he  may  be  after- 
ward." 

When  the  two  were  come  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  farm-house,  smoke  could  be  seen  rising  from  the 
chimney,  although  it  was  as  yet  hardly  light,  and  Paul 
said  as  he  pointed  toward  it : 

"I  am  thinking  Mr.  Downs  didn't  sleep  very  well 
last  night,  otherwise  he  wouldn't  be  stirring  so  early." 

"A  bad  conscience  doesn't  permit  of  sweet  slumber." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  213 

"Do  you  count  on  going  up  to  the  woods  to  look  for 
John  Ed  and  his  friend,  sir?" 

"No;  our  business  is  here.  You  may  take  station 
yonder,  where  Zenas  came  to  grief,  and  I  will  move 
back  and  forth  between  the  house  and  the  cove." 

"Mr.  Downs  will  see  that  we  are  watching  him," 

"As  to  that  I  have  no  care.  In  fact,  I  prefer  he 
should  know  we  no  longer  trust  him." 

Paul  was  about  to  obey  by  skirting  around  the  shed 
in  order  to  arrive  at  the  ruins,  when  Mr.  Downs  came 
out  of  the  building  looking  decidedly  woebegone  as 
compared  with  his  appearance  of  the  previous  morn- 
ing. 

"I'm  mighty  sorry,  Mr.  Simpson,  that  you  couldn't 
trust  me  even  over  night,  an'  yet  I  don't  s'pose  there  is 
any  reason  why  you  should.  I  heard  you  trampin' 
'round  here  from  the  time  I  went  to  bed  till  I  got  up, 
an'  it  made  my  heart  ache;  that  I'm  tellin'  you  for  a 
fact." 

"It  has  distressed  me  exceedingly,  Daniel,"  Mr. 
Simpson  said  firmly  but  sternly.  "I  had  implicit  confi- 
dence in  you,  and  yet  you  betrayed  me  within  twenty- 
four  hours  to  aid  those  whom  you  know  have  no 
further  regard  for  you  than  concerns  their  own  wicked 
ends." 

"I  know  all  that  as  well  as  you  can  tell  me,  Mr. 
Simpson,  an'  have  chewed  it  over  ever  since  I  came 
into  the  house,"  the  farmer  began  contritely.  "I  don't 
reckon  there's  any  sense  in  my  tellin'  you  how  sorry  I 
am,  because  you  can't  believe  me  after  all  that's  hap- 
pened ;  but  still  it  does  seem  as  if  you  might  take  into 


214  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

consideration  how  I  was  fixed.  If  so  be  you're  willin', 
I'd  like  to  tell  the  whole  story,  not  'cause  it  lets  me  out 
in  any  way,  but  perhaps  you'll  think  after  the  tellin' 
of  it  that  I  was  more  weak  than  wicked." 

"I  am  willing  to  listen  to  whatever  you  have  to  say, 
Daniel,  and  fancy  that  I  have  already  guessed  a  good 
portion  of  it.  You  allowed  yourself  to  be  frightened 
by  John  Ed  Bingham;  that's  the  way  I  try  to  make 
excuses  for  you." 

"And  it's  God's  truth,  sir !  You  know  what  he  is — 
a  man  who,  without  showing  his  hand  in  it,  has  allers 
succeeded  in  doin'  harm  to  them  as  crossed  his  path, 
an'  I'm  free  to  confess  that  I've  been  scared  to  go  agin 
him.  I  don't  believe  I'd  shown  myself  sich  a  coward 
if  we  was  livin'  on  the  mainland,  where  other  folks 
are  'round ;  but  way  out  here,  with  no  one  to  lend  a 
hand  in  case  you  get  into  trouble,  it  seemed  like  as  if 
I'd  got  to  keep  on  the  good  side  of  John  Ed." 

"He  came  here  the  night  the  foxes  were  brought 
ashore,"  Mr.  Simpson  said  as  Daniel  Downs  hesitated 
an  instant. 

"Ay,  that  he  did,  an'  the  lad  saw  his  footprints  on 
the  sand." 

"What  did  he  want  then?" 

"First  an'  foremost  he  was  kind'er  riled  up  'cause 
your  boy  wouldn't  give  him  a  tow,  seein's  how  he  was 
headed  for  Barren  island;  an'  then  agin  he  allowed 
you  hadn't  the  right  to  stop  him  from  comin'  ashore." 

"Was  that  why  he  came  here  in  the  schooner,  and 
hid  in  your  house?" 

"Oh  no,  sir.     I'm  just  tellin'  you  what  kind  of  a 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  215 

temper  he  was  in  the  night  the  foxes  were  brought 
ashore." 

"What  did  he  want  the  second  time?" 

"I'm  obliged  to  say,  sir,  as  he  had  come  to  lay  a 
plan  for  gettin'  hold  of  them  'ere  foxes.  He  reckoned 
that  after  bein'  kept  in  the  cages  so  long  they'd  be 
kind'er  dazed  an'  bewildered,  so  it  wouldn't  be  much 
of  a  job  to  knock  'em  over.  First  off  I  fought  hard 
agin  it;  I'd  promised  faithfully  that  no  one  should 
step  foot  on  this  'ere  island  save  with  your  permission ; 
but  I  couldn't  have  put  John  Ed  off  then,  though  per- 
haps it  might'er  been  done  later  if  I'd  called  the  boys 
an'  we'd  had  a  regular  scrimmage.  But  he'd  have 
kept  it  in  for  me,  an'  before  the  summer  went  by  these 
'ere  buildin's  would  have  been  fired,  or  somethin'  terri- 
ble happened  to  us.  I  know  John  Ed,  an'  so  do  you, 
Mr.  Simpson.  He's  a  bad  egg,  an'  somehow  or  other, 
I  can't  explain  it  even  to  myself,  he's  got  the  knack  of 
makin'  it  mighty  tough  for  them  as  don't  do  'cordin' 
to  his  idees." 

"Well,  what  about  that  first  visit?" 

"There  wasn't  much  come  of  it  then,  sir,  indeed 
there  wasn't.  I  held  out  agin  havin'  any  finger  in  the 
pie,  an'  tried  to  show  him  that  even  if  I  was  willin', 
it  couldn't  be  done  while  Paul  was  here.  So  nothin' 
was  really  settled  that  night,  except  he  warned  me  he'd 
come  agin,  an'  he  says  to  me,  says  he,  'Daniel  Downs, 
when  next  I  step  foot  on  Barren  island  it'll  be  after 
them  'ere  foxes,  an'  if  you  refuse  to  do  what  I  call  on 
you  for,  you'll  get  a  taste  of  how  John  Ed  Bingham 
pays  off  his  debts.'  I  was  scared,  an'  so  was  mother; 


216  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

we  allowed  he  could  come  mighty  near  serv.in'  out  hot 
dishes  for  us  if  we  went  agin  his  orders ;  but  I  hoped 
he  wouldn't  show  up." 

"Then  he  came  in  the  schooner?"  Mr.  Simpson 
said  questioningly. 

''Yes,  sir;  an'  as  to  that  time  I  reckon  you  know 
pretty  nigh  as  much  as  I.  He  an'  another  man  walked 
into  my  house  when  I  wasn't  any  more  expectin'  to  see 
'em  than  I  was  to  have  a  visit  from  the  angel  Gabriel. 
They  allowed  to  stay  there  till  daylight,  an'  then  sneak 
off  inter  the  woods,  countin'  to  get  hold  of  some  of  the 
foxes  'twixt  sunrise  an'  sunset.  The  schooner  was 
comin'  back  along  about  nine  o'clock  the  next  night." 

"Why  wasn't  that  plan  carried  out?" 

"I'm  allowin'  that  you're  able  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion as  well  as  I  can.  John  Ed  is  a  master  hand  at 
snoopin'  'round,  an'  he  suspicioned  that  some  of  you 
was  on  watch,  so  he  said  I'd  got  to  hide  him  till  dark, 
when  he'd  manage  by  hook  or  by  crook  to  get  inter 
the  woods  without  your  knowin'  it.  But  you  see  all 
this  mixed  up  the  rest  of  the  plan,  'cause  he  was 
countin'  on  the  schooner's  comin'  back  that  night  be- 
fore he'd  had  time  to  make  a  try  for  the  animiles,  so 
Sam  an'  Ernest  had  to  be  brought  into  it,  an'  they're 
just  as  scared  of  John  Ed  as  I  am.  It  was  schemed 
that  some  time  after  dark  they  should  put  off  in  the 
dory  to  warn  the  schooner  against  comin'  into  the 
cove,  'cause  then  we  didn't  know  she'd  carried  away 
the  topmast  an'  was  laid  up  for  repairs.  I  tell  you, 
Mr.  Simpson,  it  went  agin  my  grain  mightily,  an' 
mother  was  pretty  nigh  worried  to  death  about  havin' 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  217 

that  old  scoundrel  'round ;  but  we  couldn't  seem  to  help 
ourselves.  He'd  got  us  into  a  snarl,  an'  when  I  stood 
out  flat-footed  an'  said  I  was  goin'  to  you  with  the 
whole  story,  he  told  me  he'd  swear  that  I'd  sent  word 
for  him  to  come  here.  It  seemed  like  I  was  in  a  hob- 
ble that  couldn't  be  got  out  of  anyhow,  an'  so  I  went 
from  bad  to  worse,  as  a  man  always  does  when  he 
starts  wrong." 

"You  gave  those  men  food  last  night?" 
"Not  what  you  might  call  a  hearty  supper;  jest 
about    enough    to    keep    'em    from    bein'    downright 
hungry." 

"Have  you  seen  or  heard  of  them  since  then?" 
"No,  sir,  an'  that  you  ought'er  know  for  yourself, 
seein's  how  you've  been  trampin'  'round  here  all  night. 
Now  that  the  whole  thing  has  come  out,  I'm  askin' 
you  to  give  me  some  kind  of  a  show  to  prove  that  I 
ain't  quite  so  black  as  you've  painted  me.  We'll  stay 
right  here  in  the  house,  never  so  much  as  showin'  our 
noses  out  of  the  doors,  so  long's  you  say  the  word,  an' 
what  mother  has  proposed  is  this:  S'posen  you  live 
here — it'll  be  easier  than  keepin'  watch  on  us  from  the 
outside?  You've  got  to  come  when  the  meals  are 
ready,  an'  why  not  stop  where  you  can  see  for  yourself 
that  the  boys,  an'  mother,  an'  I  are  tryin'  to  do  the 
same  as  we  would  have  done  if  John  Ed  Bingham 
hadn't  come  with  his  threats?" 

"But  you  weren't  disposed  at  the  beginning  to  keep 
sharp  watch  over  the  foxes.  Your  sons  on  the  first 
night  believed  they  could  as  well  crawl  into  the  bushes 
to  sleep,  as  to  walk  around." 


218  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Yes,  I'm  admittin'  it,  Mr.  Simpson ;  we  did  all  that, 
an'  yet  it  shouldn't  count  so  hard  agin  us.  It's  been 
pretty  tough  for  people  like  us,  who  don't  hear  what's 
goin'  on  in  the  world,  to  believe  that  any  kind  of  a  fox 
pelt  is  worth  two  hundred  dollars.  I  know  that's  no 
business  of  mine;  that  we  agreed  to  do  certain  things 
an'  should  have  done  'em.  Now  we've  kicked  our  own 
kettle  over,  an'  the  best  that  can  be  done  is  to  try  an' 
show  we  want  to  take  a  square  turn  about." 

Mr.  Simpson  hesitated,  and  there  was  an  expression 
on  his  face  which  must  have  caused  Mr.  Downs  to  be- 
lieve that  he  did  not  intend  to  make  a  second  trial  af- 
ter having  been  so  grossly  deceived,  for  the  old  man 
cried  imploringly: 

"Come  in  an'  talk  it  over  with  mother!  It  may  be 
she  can  put  it  better'n  I  do;  but  it's  the  solemn  truth, 
Mr.  Simpson,  that  the  idee  of  doin'  by  you  as  we 
ought'er  is  as  strong  in  my  mind  as  God  will  permit." 

"Very  well,  Mr.  Downs.  We'll  meet  you  half-way. 
When  breakfast  is  ready  Paul  and  I  will  come  in  and 
have  a  heart-to-heart  talk  with  all  the  family." 

The  farmer  tried  to  give  evidence  of  his  gratitude 
for  this  partial  promise,  and  struggled  so  earnestly 
and  vainly  to  express  himself  that  Paul's  father  said  in 
a  friendly  tone: 

"Never  mind  saying  anything  about  it  until  we 
come  together  after  breakfast.  If  you  supplied  Bing- 
ham  with  only  a  small  amount  of  food  last  night,  it  is 
likely  he  will  make  some  attempt  to  speak  with  you 
this  morning." 

"That's  what  I've  been  thinkin',  sir,  an'  he's  more 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  219 

likely  to  be  here  before  sunrise,  when  there's  a  chance 
you'll  be  off  guard,  than  after  the  day  has  fully  come. 
If  I  refuse  him,  as  I  give  you  my  solemn  word  I  shall, 
he'll  not  only  threaten  all  kinds  of  mischief;  but  it 
ain't  any  two  to  one  I  don't  get  handled  as  rough  as 
did  that  man  of  yours  last  night." 

"He  won't  do  anything  of  that  kind,  Daniel,  be- 
cause one  of  us  will  be  here  all  the  time,  and  so  far  as 
his  threats  are  concerned  you  need  have  little  fear. 
If  you  and  your  sons  stand  by  me  now,  according  to 
the  bargain  you  made,  on  the  strength  of  my  forgetting 
wfeat  has  just  happened,  I'll  answer  for  it  that  when 
John  Ed  Bingham  leaves  this  island  it  will  be  in  the 
custody  of  the  sheriff." 

"I'm  goin'  to  do  just  as  you  tell  me,  no  matter  what 
the  consequences  are,"  the  farmer  cried  in  a  tone  which 
carried  with  it  the  conviction  of  truth,  and  added  sud- 
denly, "What  about  that  man  of  yours?  How  is 
he?" 

"Not  in  as  serious  a  condition  as  I  had  feared  a  few 
hours  ago,"  Mr.  Simpson  replied  guardedly.  "I  have 
great  hopes  that  he  will  be  comparatively  well  before 
night;  but  even  though  his  recovery  should  be  thus 
speedy,  it  will  not  affect  the  fact  that  a  murderous  as- 
sault was  made  upon  him.  Bingham  has  at  last  placed 
himself  within  reach  of  the  law,  and  in  order  for  the 
fellow  to  be  put  where  you  need  have  no  fears  concern- 
ing his  threats,  we  have  simply  to  keep  him  here  on 
the  island  until  it  is  our  pleasure  to  send  him  away.  All 
the  boats,  including  your  "own,  are  in  Swallow-Tailed 
cove,  where  they  can  be  under  the  eye  of  whoever  re- 


220  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

mains  at  the  wireless  station.  Therefore,  unless  he 
receives  aid  from  you  or  yours,  we  have  him  fast." 

"But  the  schooner  will  come  back,  sir,  as  soon  as 
she  has  fitted  her  topmast." 

"Her  coming  doesn't  imply  that  he  will  go  away  in 
her.  It  is  for  us  to  make  certain  he  can't." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  would  have  walked  away,  evi- 
dently with  the  intention  of  going  to  the  cove,  but  that 
Mr.  Downs,  holding  him  by  the  skirt  of  his  coat,  said 
imploringly : 

"You  ain't  goin'  to  leave  me  now,  are  you,  jest 
when  it's  the  most  certain  John  Ed  will  be  out  here? 
I  ain't  countin'  on  givin'  up  to  him,  for  I'll  have  no 
more  truck  with  that  man  from  this  time  out;  but  to 
tell  the  truth  I'm  afraid  of  him.  Nobody  knows  what 
he'll  do  when  he  gets  roused.  I'm  allowin'  he'll  be 
like  a  ravishin'  tiger  when  I  tell  him  we  won't  give 
him  anythin'  to  eat." 

"Don't  have  any  anxiety  on  that  score,  Daniel.  I'll 
remain  close  about  here,  and  if  Bingham  shows  himself 
you  shan't  be  alone  to  meet  him." 

Again  Mr.  Downs  would  have  given  words  to  the 
gratitude  in  his  heart,  and  again  his  employer  checked 
him,  moving  away  a  few  paces  to  say  in  a  low  tone  to 
Paul: 

"You  may  go  back  to  the  station  and  tell-  Zenas  all 
that  you  have  heard.  I  shall  stay  here.  You  are  to 
return  for  breakfast,  and  carry  back  to  the  shanty 
enough  to  satisfy  Cushing's  wants." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  went  into  the  house,  and  Paul 
made  all  speed  toward  the  shanty,  eager  to  learn  what 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  221 

might  be  the  opinion  of  Zenas  regarding  this  tardy 
repentance  of  the  farmer  and  his  family. 

The  alleged  victim  had  taken  the  precaution  to  as- 
sume a  position  of  semi-unconsciousness  as  he  heard 
the  lad  coming,  but  roused  very  suddenly  when 
Paul  announced  while  he  flung  open  the  door  of  the 
shanty : 

"Daniel  Downs  is  mighty  sorry  because  he  let  John 
Ed  Bingham  lead  him  astray." 

"Well,  he  has  need  to  be,"  was  the  unsympathetic 
reply.  "Been  whinin'  to  your  father,  eh?" 

"He  has  made  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  swears  that 
nothing  of  the  kind  shall  ever  happen  again." 

"Oh,  he  has?"  and  there  was  a  note  of  incredulity 
in  Zenas's  voice.  "When  he  got  tied  up  so  far  that 
he  couldn't  take  another  step,  he's  come  down  an'  says 
he's  willin'  to  be  forgiven,  eh?  I  wonder  how  long 
he'd  have  run  that  'ere  rig  of  his  if  your  father  hadn't 
caught  him  foul,  an'  in  such  a  way  that  he  couldn't 
crawl  out?" 

"But  he  really  is  sorry,  Zenas,"  Paul  said  seriously. 
"You  should  have  heard  him  talk." 

"I've  seen  how  he  acted  when  he  thought  he  had 
things  pretty  much  his  own  way,  an'  that  was  enough 
for  me,"  was  the  curt  reply.  "I've  known  of  folks 
who'd  turn  'round  mighty  sorry  for  their  misdoin's 
after  they'd  danced  their  jig  to  the  end,  an'  I  never  had 
any  very  great  faith  in  'em.  I  s'pose  Daniel  thinks 
your  father  believed  it  all,  Jest  'cause  he  comes  up  an* 
whines  like  a  baby,  tellin'  how  John  Ed  Bingham 
frightened  him  into  it,  an'  that  he'll  be  given  the  care  of 


222  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

the  foxes  agin,  with  us  toddlin'  off  an'  say  in'  it's  all 
right." 

"How  did  you  know  he  claimed  that  John  Ed  fright- 
ened him  into  it?" 

"That's  about  the  only  story  he  could  tell  to  clear  his 
own  skirts.  I  don't  allow  Daniel  Downs  is  any  too 
quick-witted;  but  will  give  him  credit  for  makin'  up 
a  reasonable  kind  of  a  yarn  when  he  starts  out.  If 
he'd  said  he  agreed  of  his  own  free  will  to  help  run  off 
the  foxes,  why  then  his  talk  wouldn't  have  amounted 
to  very  much." 

"But  I  really  believe  he  means  what  he  says,  and 
that  he  and  his  sons  will  do  in  the  future  exactly  as 
they  have  promised,"  Paul  said  emphatically,  and 
Zenas  added  quite  as  positively : 

"An*  I  don't.  I  wouldn't  trust  him  any  further'n 
across  this  room.  When  a  man  has  lied  to  me  once, 
I  don't  give  him  a  chance  the  second  time  unless  I'm 
willin'  to  call  myself  a  fool.  So  your  father  took  down 
everythin'  he  said  jest  like  new  milk,  eh?" 

"I  don't  know  whether  he  did  or  not;  but  he  has 
agreed  to  stay  in  the  house  instead  of  walking  around 
outside,  and  it  will  be  a  simple  matter  for  him  to  keep 
the  whole  family  in  view  while  taking  his  ease.  They 
are  expecting  to  see  Bingham  come  out  now,  because 
he  hadn't  any  more  than  food  enough  for  supper." 

"Well,  they  won't  see  him,"  Zenas  cried,  as  if  he  had 
personal  cause  for  complaint  because  his  employer  had 
listened  to  Daniel  Downs's  pitiful  story.  "John  Ed 
Bingham  has  kept  right  along  on  the  edge  of  the  law 
all  his  life,  spendin'  pretty  nigh  every  hour  watchin' 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  223 

out  lest  somebody  would  get  him  by  the  heels,  an'  I'll 
be  willin'  to  stand  still  an'  let  you  give  me  jest  as  hard 
a  lick  on  the  head  as  I  got  last  night,  if  he  shows  him- 
self while  your  father  is  in  the  house." 

"But  he  must  come  out  when  his  food  is  gone," 
Paul  insisted,  disappointed  because  Zenas  had  not  re- 
ceived the  news  of  the  farmer's  repentance  as  thank- 
fully as  it  seemed  he  should  have  done. 

"John  Ed  will  go  hungry  a  long  while  before  he 
steps  his  foot  near  where  your  father  is  waitin',  an* 
if  you're  puttin'  all  your  faith  on  starvin'  him  out,  why 
I'm  tellin'  you  it's  a  case  of  leanin'  on  a  mighty  slender 
reed,  'cause  that  old  smuggler  knows  of  more'n  one 
way  to  skin  a  cat." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

A  CRY  FOR  HELP 

PAUL  did  not  believe  Zenas  was  in  the  right  when 
he  predicted  that  John  Ed  Bingham  was  "too  old  a 
bird  to  be  caught  by  chaff,"  yet  it  was  hardly  worth 
while  to  argue  against  it,  for  within  the  next  twelve 
hours,  unless  indeed  the  old  smuggler  could  bear  the 
pangs  of  hunger  longer  than  seemed  possible,  the  mat- 
ter would  be  definitely  settled. 

For  his  own  part  the  lad  felt  confident  that  the  tres- 
passers on  Silver  Fox  Farm  would  soon  be  made  pris- 
oners, to  be  sent  to  the  mainland  whenever  it  suited  his 
father's  purpose,  and  for  the  time  being  it  appeared 
as  if,  now  that  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons  had  been 
brought  to  see  the  evil  of  their  ways,  there  would  no 
longer  be  any  serious  impediment  to  the  task  of  rais- 
ing foxes,  provided,  of  course,  the  animals  finally  came 
to  feel  at  home  on  Barren  island. 

"I'm  to  bring  you  breakfast,"  he  said,  thus  abruptly 
changing  the  conversation,  and  Zenas  asked  in  sur- 
prise: 

"What's  the  meanin'  of  that?  Does  your  father 
count  on  makin'  it  look  as  if  I  was  nigh  to  death  a 
spell  longer?  'Cordin'  to  the  way  I  size  it  up,  he'll  be 
needin'  all  the  help  that  can  be  found  on  this  blessed 
place,  an*  can't  afford  to  have  me  loafin'  'round  the 
shanty." 

"His  orders  were  that  you  should  remain  under 

224 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  225 

cover  a  while  longer,  most  likely  until  he  feels  more 
certain  that  the  Downs  family  are  really  repentant,  and 
I'm  to  feed  you,"  Paul  replied  with  a  laugh,  whereupon 
Zenas  indulged  in  a  gesture  of  impatience,  as  if  he  be- 
lieved this  plan  of  concealing  his  real  condition  to  be 
childish. 

"Of  course  it  ain't  for  me  to  say  what  shall  be  done 
here,  'cause  your  father's  the  boss ;  but  I'm  bettin'  the 
biggest  kind  of  a  big  apple  that  before  this  day  is  very 
much  older  he'll  have  need  of  me  outside." 

"Then  I  allow  you'll  be  cured  of  all  your  troubles  in 
a  twinkling.  Does  your  head  ache  this  morning?" 

"I'm  as  chipper  as  a  sparrer,  an'  keen  to  do  my  share 
toward  settin'  things  to  rights  on  this  'ere  island.  I'd 
like  to  run  things  jest  about  an  hour,  an'  if  fox  farmin' 
didn't  hum  before  I  got  through,  I'd  get  you  to  tell  me 
the  reason  why." 

"What  would  you  do?" 

"Pack  the  Downs  family  off  in  the  old  power  dory 
inside  of  thirty  minutes,  so's  to  make  certain  they 
didn't  have  another  chance  to  play  any  tricks.  Then 
I'd  go  for  that  miserable  smuggler  an'  his  friend  with 
a  shotgun,  an'  wouldn't  be  overly  careful  how  I  han- 
dled it." 

"You  are  too  bloodthirsty  altogether,"  Paul  cried 
with  a  hearty  laugh.  "Want  to  get  even  with  John 
Ed  for  that  blow  he  gave  you,  eh  ?" 

"Well,  it  stands  to  reason  I'd  like  to  square  matters ; 
but  whether  he  had  ever  hit  me  or  not,  I'd  bring  him 
out  of  the  woods  to  where  he  couldn't  do  the  foxes 
harm,  if  there  was  any  virtue  in  powder  an'  shot." 


226  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Since  you  are  supposed  to  be  lying  at  the  point  of 
death,  and  because  it's  my  duty  to  play  the  part  of 
nurse,  so  far  as  feeding  you  goes,  I  reckon  I  may  as 
well  go  back  to  the  farm-house  for  breakfast,  in  order 
to  be  ready  for  business  when  Ned  gets  into  the  Sea- 
view  station." 

Then  Paul  walked  leisurely  toward  the  house,  feel- 
ing wonderfully  free  from  care,  since  matters  had  ap- 
parently been  straightened  out  fairly  well,  and  before 
he  had  traversed  half  the  necessary  distance  the  horn 
was  sounded  vigorously. 

"Mrs.  Downs  counts  on  feeding  us  promptly,  no 
matter  how  much  of  a  snarl  her  husband  and  sons  may 
have  gotten  themselves  into,"  the  lad  said  to  him- 
self with  a  certain  sense  of  satisfaction,  for  it  pleased 
him  to  know,  as  he  believed  he  did,  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  doing  their  best  to  obey 
orders. 

Mr.  Downs  and  the  boys  were  unusually  silent  when 
Paul  drew  his  chair  up  to  the  table  with  a  good  appe- 
tite for  the  fried  pork  and  fish  which  Mrs.  Downs  had 
prepared  in  great  abundance.  Neither  Sam  nor  Ernest 
had  any  alleged  witty  remarks  to  make  in  disparage- 
ment of  the  wireless  station,  but  seemingly  devoted  all 
their  attention  to  the  food  before  them,  while  Mr. 
Downs  was  on  the  alert  for  sounds  betokening  the  ap- 
proach of  the  men  who  had  been  hiding  in  the  woods, 
and  did  not  appear  to  be  enjoying  the  morning  meal 
particularly  well. 

Mrs.  Downs  bustled  here  and  there,  intent  only  on 
feeding  the  family  to  the  utmost  of  their  several  capac- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  227 

ities,  she  believing  that  there  was  no  antidote  like  food 
for  troubles  of  any  kind,  while  at  the  same  time  she 
was  cooking  two  or  three  savory  messes  for  the  sup- 
posed invalid  at  the  shanty. 

"It  does  really  seem  to  me  as  if  Mr.  Cushin' 
ought'er  come  down  here,  where  he  can  be  comfort- 
able," she  said  solicitously  when  Paul  had  risen  from 
the  table  in  token  that  his  hunger  was  satisfied.  "Why 
not  speak  to  him  about  it?  He  shall  have  the  spare 
room,  an'  I'll  do  all  any  mortal  woman  can  to  make 
him  feel  at  home." 

"Perhaps  you  had  better  speak  to  father  in  regard 
to  it,"  Paul  replied  as  he  went  toward  the  door.  "He 
will  come  in  to  breakfast  now,  and  you  can  talk  the 
matter  over." 

Mr.  Simpson  was  standing  guard  near  the  wood- 
shed when  Paul  came  out,  and  instead  of  asking  any 
questions  he  said  abruptly: 

"You  are  to  remain  here,  watching  carefully  the 
edge  of  the  woods.  At  first  sight  of  the  men  give  an 
alarm  at  once.  I  shan't  spend  many  minutes  at  the 
table." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  went  into  the  house,  and  Paul 
stood  at  the  post  assigned  him,  scrutinizing  closely 
the  line  of  foliage  in  front  of  him ;  but  seeing  nothing 
to  betoken  the  whereabouts  of  John  Ed  and  his  part- 
ner in  crime. 

Ten  minutes  later  Mr.  Simpson  came  from  the 
farm-house  to  say  hurriedly: 

"Now  you  may  carry  Zenas's  breakfast  to  the 
shanty,  and  it  will  be  well  for  you  to  stay  there  until 


228  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Ned  is  ready  to  open  communication  with  the  island. 
Tell  Gushing  to  keep  watch  over  the  boats." 

"What  shall  I  say  to  Ned  when  he  calls?" 

"Get  what  information  he  has  to  give,  and  then  ask 
him  to  wait  until  you  can  repeat  it  to  me.  I  shall  re- 
main here  or  in  the  house,  where  I  can  have  a  view  of 
the  woods  from  the  window,  and  all  the  Downs  fam- 
ily will  be  with  me." 

"Are  you  thinking  of  sending  to  Seaview  for  help, 
sir?" 

"I  have  not  yet  decided.  If  we  could  get  our  hands 
on  Bingham  and  the  man  he  has  with  him,  there  would 
be  no  need,  at  least,  not  until  it  becomes  necessary  for 
me  to  go  to  the  mainland." 

At  this  point  Mrs.  Downs  interrupted  the  conversa- 
tion by  announcing  that  breakfast  was  ready  for  "that 
poor,  sick  man,"  and  Paul  hastened  to  carry  it  to  the 
shanty. 

Although  Zenas  did  not  approve  of  having  his 
"meals  served  in  his  room,"  he  made  a  vigorous  attack 
upon  the  food,  while  Paul  adjusted  the  wireless  ap- 
paratus for  communication  with  Seaview. 

"Count  on  findin'  your  chum  'tendin'  to  business  so 
soon  in  the  mornin'?"  Zenas  asked  curiously,  for  it 
was  not  yet  six  o'clock. 

"If  Captain  Tobi  Thompson  had  anything  of  im- 
portance to  tell  father,  Ned  will  be  on  hand  early ;  but 
under  any  circumstances  he'll  be  at  his  station  before 
seven,"  and  Paul  began  sending  out  the  call,  after 
which  he  switched  on  the  receiver,  with  the  result  that 
immediately  came  the  reply: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  229 

"O.  K.  n-d." 

"Anything  new  ?" 

"Yes;  how  is  it  with  you?" 

"We  are  all  right,  though  we've  had  a  lively  night. 
Will  explain  when  we  have  more  time." 

Then  came  the  message  from  Ned,  which  Paul 
wrote  out  as  it  was  received,  Zenas  standing  at  his 
shoulder  that  he  might  read  the  words : 

"Captain  Thompson  says  schooner  will  leave  port 
this  forenoon.  He  believes  she  is  bound  for  Barren 
island.  Craft  hails  from  Eastport,  and  one  of  the  crew 
claims  Bingham  owns  half  of  her.  Tough  crowd  on 
board.  Captain  Thompson  advises  that  you  call  help 
from  here,  else  serious  trouble  may  come  to  the  farm." 

"An'  yet  you  allowed  John  Ed  would  show  himself 
this  mornin'  jest  'cause  he  felt  a  little  hungry !"  Zenas 
muttered  as  he  read  the  message.  "The  old  villain 
knows  the  schooner  must  put  in  here  mighty  soon,  an' 
he's  countin'  on  squarin'  matters  then." 

Paul  gave  but  little  heed  to  this  remark,  for  he  was 
explaining  to  Ned  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  him 
to  show  the  message  to  his  father  before  making  reply. 

"I  shall  stay  here  as  long  as  you  need  me;  I've  got 
my  books,  and  can  put  in  all  the  time  necessary,"  the 
operator  at  Seaview  replied,  and  Paul  hurried  away  to 
show  his  father  what  he  believed  to  be  startling  news. 

Mr.  Simpson  did  not  appear  surprised  when  he  read 
the  words,  but  remained  in  thought  so  long  that  finally 
Paul  asked  impatiently: 

"Are  you  counting  to  send  for  help?" 

"Perhaps  that  would  be  the  wisest  course ;  but  I  am 


230  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

eager  to  capture  Bingham  myself.  Will  Ned  wait 
awhile  at  the  station?  If  so  I  would  like  to  consider 
the  matter  more  thoroughly." 

"He  promises  to  stay  there  as  long  as  you  wish." 

"That  is  good!  Tell  him  I  will  send  word  before 
ten  o'clock,  and  in  the  meanwhile  he  is  to  let  you  know 
when  the  schooner  leaves  the  harbor." 

Paul  hurried  back  to  repeat  his  father's  words,  and, 
quite  as  a  matter  of  course,  Zenas  was  eager  to  know 
what  had  been  decided  upon. 

"It  ain't  any  two  to  one  that  he  won't  wait  till  it's 
too  late,"  Gushing  grumbled  when  the  lad  told  him 
what  had  been  Mr.  Simpson's  decision.  "He'd  be  wiser 
to  have  the  sheriff  send  over  three  or  four  men,  an' 
snake  John  Ed  out  of  his  hidin'  place,  wherever  it  may 
be.  As  for  catchin'  that  old  fox  with  what  crew  we've 
got  here,  not  knowin'  how  the  Downs  family  may  turn, 
it's  all  poppycock." 

Paul  hardly  heard  what  had  been  said,  so  occupied 
was  he  in  sending  word  to  his  friend,  as  well  as  in  re- 
ceiving the  following  message,  evidently  sent  by  Ned 
on  his  own  account. 

"Captain  Thompson  seemed  to  think  your  father 
would  be  foolish  if  he  didn't  make  all  possible  prepara- 
tions against  the  arrival  of  the  schooner.  Mansfield's 
power  boat  can  be  hired  to  take  across  as  many  men  as 
may  be  needed.  Shall  I  ask  him  to  hold  her  at  the 
pier  until  your  father  makes  up  his  mind  ?" 

"Better  let  the  whole  matter  rest  as  it  is  for  two 
hours.  If  you  will  stay  in  the  station!  can  call  any 
time  before  then,  if  necessary  for " 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  231 

The  operator  was  interrupted  in  the  sending  of  his 
message  by  the  crackling  and  snapping  of  the  wires 
in  a  manner  which  caused  Zenas  to  step  back  in  alarm, 
even  as  had  Sam,  and  Paul  said  impatiently,  but  as  if 
speaking  to  himself : 

"Now  what's  gone  wrong?  That  doesn't  sound 
like  anything  I  ever  heard  when  there  was  trouble." 

He  had  hardly  begun  to  examine  the  apparatus 
when  Ned  succeeded  in  clicking  off  the  words : 

"Are  you  having " 

Again  came  the  crackling,  which  broke  off  that  series 
of  sound  waves  coming  from  the  direction  of  Seaview, 
or,  mingling  with  them,  made  a  most  confusing  noise. 

Paul  sat  helplessly  staring  at  the  instrument,  be- 
lieving everything  was  in  good  working  order,  and  yet 
failing  to  understand  why  there  should  be  such  a  con- 
flict in  the  air  on  an  almost  cloudless  morning,  with  no 
more  than  a  pleasant  summer  breeze  rippling  the 
waters  of  the  sea. 

"Has  the  thing  got  away  from  you?"  Zenas  asked 
curiously,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  giving  slight  evi- 
dence of  alarm. 

"That's  what  I  don't  know,"  Paul  replied.  "There's 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  work " 

He  ceased  speaking  suddenly,  and  quickly  adjusted 
the  instrument  to  longer  sound  waves.  Immediately 
that  was  done  came  with  startling  distinctness  the  om- 
inous letters :  "C-d-q,  c-d-q,  c-d-q." 

"Some  one  from  out  to  sea  is  calling  us  in  distress/* 
he  cried,  so  much  surprised,  and  perhaps  bewildered, 
for  an  instant  as  to  give  no  heed  to  the  fact  that  he 


232  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

should  answer  as  soon  as  might  be  this  appeal  for 
help.  "A  craft  equipped  with  a  wireless  apparatus  is 
in  trouble." 

"Can't  you  find  out  who  she  is,  or  where  she's 
layin'?"  Zenas  cried,  growing  literally  wild  with  ex- 
citement. "Do  you  count  on  sittin'  there  like  a  chump 
an'  lettin'  them  yell  for  help?" 

"I  declare  I  had  forgotten  that  there  was  anything 
I  could  do,"  Paul  replied,  not  yet  fully  recovered  from 
the  maze  of  bewilderment  which  had  come  over  him 
at  this  the  first  signal  of.  danger  he  had  ever  caught 
from  the  antenna. 

Again  the  letters  were  repeated,  and  it  seemed  even 
to  Zenas,  who  knew  nothing  whatsoever  of  telegraph- 
ing, that  they  sounded  ominous,  appealing. 

The  lad  was  wholly  ignorant  of  the  code  used  in  the 
maritime  service;  nor  did  he  stop  to  consider  in  what 
form  the  reply  should  be  made;  but  raising  the  key 
with  tremulous  fingers,  he  clicked  off: 

"What's  wanted?"  Where  are  you?" 

"This  is  the  yacht  Nera,  from  New  York  to  Mount 
Desert.  Struck  a  derelict  this  morning,  and  in  danger 
of  sinking.  Who  are  you?" 

"A  station  on  Barren  island,  twenty  miles  eastward 
from  the  mainland." 

"Have  you  any  means  by  which  to  get  to  our  assist- 
ance?" 

"A  6-horse  Hampton  boat;  could  carry  twenty  peo- 
ple, or  tow  a  small  craft." 

"Come  at  once,  or,  if  possible,  send  a  tug  from 
mainland" 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  233 

Even  at  the  expense  of  valuable  time,  and  not  dar- 
ing to  wait  sufficiently  long  to  get  his  father's  advice, 
Paul  sent  out  the  words: 

"This  station  only  a  small  one  established  to  be  used 
with  another  at  Seaview.  No  steam  tug  at  that  place. 
I  haven't  power  enough  to  send  as  far  as  Portland." 

Paul  had  written  out,  as  a  matter  of  course,  all  the 
words  received  from  the  yacht  which  was  in  distress, 
and  Zenas  quite  naturally  had  read  the  message  as  fast 
as  set  down.  Now,  without  knowing  what  reply  the 
lad  had  sent,  Gushing  asked  sharply: 

"Can't  them  folks  tell  you  where  they  are?  It 
wouldn't  be  such  a  terrible  job  for  us  to  put  out  to  them 
in  your  new  boat." 

He  had  hardly  more  than  ceased  speaking  when 
came  the  words : 

"We  are  perhaps  twenty  miles  southwest  of  Matini- 
cus  Light.  Can  keep  afloat  five  or  six  hours.  Two 
boats  useless,  and  the  remaining  one  not  sufficient  to 
carry  half  our  people." 

"Where  would  that  be,  Zenas?"  Paul  asked  hur- 
riedly as  he  pointed  to  the  written  message.  "About 
how  far  from  here?" 

"Somewhere  thirty-five  or  forty  miles,  I  should  say. 
It  couldn't  be  further,  an'  if  you  pressed  the  Hampton 
boat  she  ought'er  do  that  much  inside  of  four  hours. 
Tell  'em  so,  an'  if  so  be  they're  in  as  bad  stress  as 
seems,  you  an'  I'll  make  the  venture." 

"But  we  can't  go  away  while  John  Ed " 

"Let  John  Ed  hang  himself !  What  do  silver  foxes 
amount  to  when  there's  a  yacht  full  of  people  that  are 


234  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

likely  to  be  drowned?  Tell  'em  we'll  go,  an'  I'll  run 
down  to  let  your  father  know  what's  happened." 

Without  waiting  for  a  reply  Zenas  started  off  at  full 
speed,  and  Mrs.  Downs,  who  was  standing  in  the 
door  of  the  farm-house  speaking  with  Mr.  Simpson, 
gave  vent  to  a  cry  of  terror  as  she  saw  him,  who  was 
supposed  to  be  lying  at  the  point  of  death,  coming  at 
full  speed,  waving  his  arms  excitedly. 

Zenas's  mind  was  in  such  a  ferment  that  only  with 
the  greatest  difficulty  could  he  tell  a  connected  story, 
and  it  became  necessary  for  Mr.  Simpson  to  ask  many 
questions  before  he  could  arrive  at  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  what  was  on  foot.  Then,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  he  exclaimed  hurriedly: 

"If  it  be  possible  for  you  and  Paul  to  come  up  with 
the  wreck  in  time,  set  off  without  delay ;  but  the  ques- 
tion is  whether  you  will  be  able  to  find  her." 

"She  should  be  in  view  a  long  distance  away  on 
such  a  day  as  this,  an'  while  I  don't  claim  to  be  any- 
thin'  great  of  a  sailor,  I'd  be  ashamed  to  say  I  couldn't 
come  somewhere  near  strikin'  a  twenty-mile  spot  south- 
west of  Matinicus." 

"Is  it  possible  I  can  be  of  any  service?"  Mr.  Simp- 
son cried  as  Zenas  started  back  at  his  best  pace  to  ac- 
quaint Paul  with  the  fact  that  his  father  had  the  same 
as  commanded  a  rescue  to  be  attempted. 

"I  don't  see  how  three  could  do  any  more'n  two,  an' 
Paul  an'  I  ought'er  be  abje  to  tackle  the  job,  if  it's 
within  the  power  of  anybody  here,"  Zenas  cried,  and 
so  swift  was  his  pace  that  he  had  come  nearly  to  the 
door  of  the  shanty  before  the  last  words  were  uttered. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  235 

"Heard  anything  more  ?"  he  asked  breathlessly,  and 
Paul,  who  had  but  just  ceased  working  the  telegraph 
key,  replied: 

"The  operator  on  the  yacht  tells  me  he  has  been 
sounding  his  distress  call  since  early  daylight  without 
receiving  any  answer,  and  it  would  seem  as  if  we  were 
the  only  ones  who  could  be  summoned  in  time  to  be  of 
assistance.  The  port  bow  has  been  stove  badly;  but 
after  shifting  everything  movable,  they  have  suc- 
ceeded in  raising  it  so  far  above  the  surface  of  the  sea 
that  it  is  possible,  by  working  all  the  pumps,  to  keep 
her  afloat.  If  the  wind  should  spring  up  at  noon, 
there's  little  or  no  chance  she  would  swim  very  long." 

"We  are  to  start  off  this  minute  'cordin'  to  your 
father's  orders,"  Zenas  cried,  literally  dragging  Paul 
from  his  chair,  and  when  the  two  were  come  to  the 
door  of  the  shanty  both  uttered  cries  of  dismay. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Hampton  boat  had  been 
moored  in  Swallow-Tailed  cove  to  prevent  the  possi- 
bility of  her  being  stolen  by  Bingham,  it  seemed  to  a 
certainty  she  was  imprisoned  there  at  the  very  moment 
when  human  lives  depended  upon  getting  her  into  deep 
water. 

"It  can't  be  done,"  Paul  cried  helplessly,  but  con- 
tinuing to  run  toward  the  shore  of  the  cove.  "We 
won't  be  able  to  get  out  over  the  rocks!" 

"We  never  shall  know  if  we  stand  here  lookin'  at 
her,"  Zenas  cried  angrily.  "It  strikes  me  we'd  better 
take  the  chances  of  wreckin'  her  than  give  over  tryin' 
to  do  anythin'  to  help  those  poor  wretches  who've  got 
no  one  to  depend  on  but  us." 


236  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"But  if  we  wreck  her,  how  much  better  off  would 
they  be?" 

"I'm  not  allowin'  that  we  are  goin'  to  do  anythin' 
of  the  kind.  It  won't  be  such  a  terrible  easy  matter, 
I'll  admit,  to  take  her  out  over  that  shallow  water;  but 
it  seems  to  me  the  two  of  us  ought'er  have  sense 
enough  to  do  it,  if  so  be  there's  an  inch  to  spare  be- 
tween her  keel  and  the  rocks.  Shall  we  try  it?" 

"Of  course  we'll  try  it,"  Paul  replied,  now  so  far 
recovered  from  the  first  daze  of  bewilderment  and  fear 
as  to  be  keenly  alive  to  the  situation.  "If  we  can  hold 
her  until  the  very  moment  when  the  swell  comes  in,  it 
should  be  possible  to  do  the  trick." 

Zenas,  instead  of  waiting  to  hear  the  lad's  explana- 
tions, or  plans,  whichever  they  may  be  called,  had 
seized  upon  Mr.  Downs's  dory,  which  was  lying  far  in- 
land, dragging  her  across  the  sands  as  if  he  had  the 
strength  of  a  dozen  men  in  his  arms,  and  when  Paul 
came  up  to  lend  a  hand  the  task  was  finished. 

Zenas  hardly  waited  for  his  companion  to  clamber 
inboard  before  he  pushed  the  dory  offv  and  it  seemed 
to  Paul  as  if  they  were  on  board  the  Hampton 
boat  within  a  minute  from  the  time  of  leaving  the 
shanty. 

Both  understood  that  to  waste  a  few  seconds  might 
mean  the  lives  of  human  beings,  and  they  labored  with 
feverish  haste,  Zenas  weighing  anchor  while  Paul 
started  the  motor,  both  working  to  such  advantage  that 
when  she  was  freed  from  the  ground  it  was  possible 
to  turn  the  screw. 

"You  take  the  wheel,  Zenas,  and  I'll  stand  by  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  237 

motor.  Put  her  through  yonder,  near  where  that  big 
rock  shows  up,  for  unless  I  am  mistaken  that's  the 
only  spot  on  the  reef  where  we  can  hope  to  get  across. 
I'll  check  her  speed  until  the  swell  comes,  an'  then  send 
her  forward  for  all  she's  worth." 

Neither  of  these  landsmen  who  were  putting  out  in 
the  vain  hope  of  saving  those  aboard  the  crippled 
yacht,  had  given  any  heed  to  their  own  safety.  In- 
stead of  making  Mr.  Downs's  dory  fast  astern  when 
they  came  on  board  the  Hampton  boat,  so  great  was 
their  excitement  and  haste  that  the  painter  had  been 
untouched,  and  the  little  craft  was  drifting  toward  the 
westerly  shore,  leaving  them  without  means  of  saving 
their  own  lives  in  case  the  larger  craft  should  strike  the 
reef  with  sufficient  force  to  stave  her  timbers. 

Nor,  as  has  been  seen,  did  they  take  with  them  either 
food  or  water,  but  had  set  off  on  this  almost  hopeless 
attempt  without  anything  whatsoever  to  minister  to 
their  own  comfort. 

"We  ought'er  kept  the  dory  alongside  in  case  we  hit 
them  'ere  rocks,"  Zenas  cried  as  he  headed  the  bow  of 
the  boat  a  few  feet  to  the  eastward  of  the  huge  boulder 
that  rose  across  the  mouth  of  Swallow-Tailed  cove,  as 

• 

if  forbidding  entrance  to  any  from  the  outside.  "It'll 
be  a  bad  pickle  for  us  if  we  strike  too  heavy." 

"Never  mind  that  part  of  it,  so  that  we  get  out  in 
time." 

"It  wasn't  the  gettin'  out  that  was  worry  in'  me," 
Zenas  replied  grimly.  "It  was  the  chance  we'd  be 
stuck  half  way,  with  not  much  of  anything  left  beneath 
our  feet." 


238  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Under  almost  any  other  circumstances  Paul  would 
have  literally  quivered  with  fear  in  taking  such  des- 
perate chances  as  were  before  them.  He  knew  that  at 
the  most,  providing  they  came  to  the  obstructions  in 
the  mouth  of  the  cove  at  exactly  the  right  moment, 
there  could  not  be  more  than  four  or  five  inches  of 
water  to  spare,  and  if  peradventure  the  swell  receded 
before  the  entire  length  of  the  boat  had  passed  over, 
then  must  she  be  flung  upon  the  rocks,  where  the  surf 
would  speedily  beat  her  to  pieces. 

Fortunately,  however,  he  had  in  mind  only  that 
which  was  to  be  attained;  saw  before  him  only  those 
people  aboard  the  shattered  yacht  who  had  none  but 
him  and  Zenas  to  depend  upon  for  safety,  and  failed 
almost  entirely  to  heed  the  peril  which  he  wras  encoun- 
tering, because  of  the  danger  to  those  so  far  away. 

Now  checking  the  speed  of  the  motor,  and  again 
driving  at  full  speed,  Paul  manoeuvred  so  successfully 
that  they  met  the  incoming  wave  in  time  to  ride  di- 
rectly on  its  crest.  For  one  instant  the  two  literally 
held  their  breath  in  suspense,  expecting  each  second 
to  hear  that  grinding  of  timbers  upon  the  rocks  be- 
neath which  would  tell  that  the  Hampton  boat  had 
come  to  her  grave,  and  then  she  darted  out  like  a  bird 
that  skims  the  surface  of  the  sea,  dashing  the  spray 
on  either  side  of  her  bow  as  if  exulting  that  she  had 
escaped  the  prison  which  would  have  held  her  helpless. 

"That's  what  I  call  a  pretty  neat  job,  an*  a  close 
one !"  Zenas  cried  in  a  tone  of  triumph  as  he  swung  the 
helm  down  to  bring  the  gallant  little  boat  on  that 
course  which  he  believed  would  bring  them  to  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  239 

scene  of  peril.  "We  got  out  by  the  skin  of  our  teeth ; 
fifteen  minutes  later  it  couldn't  have  been  done,  an' 
seein's  how  we've  had  such  luck  at  the  start,  I'm 
countin'  we'll  pull  through  in  great  shape." 

"To  find  a  small  yacht  twenty  miles  southwest  of 
Matinicus,  isn't  going  to  be  anything  like  running  for 
the  harbor  of  Seaview  from  Barren  island,"  Paul  said 
doubtfully,  for  now  that  it  had  been  possible  to  start 
out  on  the  voyage  for  the  purpose  of  life-saving,  he  was 
beginning  to  question  their  ability  to  continue  it  suc- 
cessfully. 

"On  a  day  like  this  we  ought'er  see  a  decent-sized 
yacht  fifteen  miles  away,  so  it  stands  to  reason  we've 
got  that  bigness  of  a  circle  to  go  an'  come  in,  an'  if  we 
don't  strike  her,  I'm  goin'  to  allow  that  both  of  us  are 
wooden  heads." 

"She  may  have  been  picked  up  before  we  get  there," 
Paul  suggested. 

"So  much  the  better  for  us." 

"Yes,  except  that  we  shall  go  on  hunting  and  hunt- 
ing, when  she's  in  a  place  of  safety." 

"All  right,"  Zenas  cried  cheerfully.  "We'll  keep  on 
huntin',  an'  if  nothin'  comes  of  it  we'll  have  the  satis- 
faction of  knowin'  we  did  our  level  best." 

Not  until  that  instant  did  Paul  realize  in  what  con- 
dition matters  had  been  left  on  the  island,  and  now, 
as  all  the  possible  complications  presented  themselves 
to  his  mind,  he  cried  in  a  tone  of  distress : 

"But  what  will  become  of  father  ?  I  didn't  explain 
to  Ned  why  I  couldn't  call  him  again  to-day,  and  the 
men  who  might  have  been  sent  from  Seaview  can't  be 


240  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

summoned.  Bingham  and  his  friend  can  come  out  of 
the  woods,  and,  with  the  Downs  family  to  help  them, 
turn  Silver  Fox  Farm  upside  down !" 

"That  'ere's  a  mighty  cheerful  picture  you're 
drawin',"  Zenas  suggested  grimly,  and  Paul  cried,  im- 
patient in  his  anxiety: 

"It's  no  more  than  may  happen.  While  thinking  of 
those  in  distress,  we  should  have  taken  heed  to  father's 
situation.  I  ought  to  have  stayed  in  the  station  long 
enough  to  tell  Ned  what  call  I  had  picked  up  out  to  sea, 
and  warned  him  to  send  some  one  over  to  Barren  isl- 
and." 

"Yes,  an'  if  you  had  done  all  that  we  wouldn't 
been  able  to  get  this  'ere  boat  out'er  Swallow-Tailed 
cove." 

"We  might  have  gone  out  and  then  come  ashore 
again  from  the  westerly  side,  long  enough  to  send  a 
message  to  Ned,"  Paul  said  sadly. 

"Ay,  we  could  have  spent  half  an  hour  or  more  fid- 
dlin'  'round  in  that  way,  when  them  poor  creeters  out 
in  the  yacht  are  countin'  every  minute  'twixt  them  an' 
the  other  world." 

Paul's  distress  of  mind  was  keen.  He  realized  that 
the  cry  for  help  which  had  come  through  the  air  must 
be  answered  at  every  hazard,  and  without  the  slight- 
est loss  of  time.  On  the  other  hand,  he  knew  only  too 
well  how  great  would  be  the  danger  menacing  his 
father  if  it  chanced  that  Bingham  and  his  comrade 
learned  that  Mr.  Simpson  had  no  other  on  the  island  to 
whom  he  could  look  for  assistance,  save  the  members 
of  the  Downs  family. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  241 

As  the  Hampton  boat  sped  on  over  the  foam-flecked 
waves  Paul  suffered  the  keenest  distress  of  mind,  fear- 
ing one  instant  lest  they  should  not  arrive  in 
time  to  save  those  who  had  appealed  to  him  for  aid, 
and  again  feeling  almost  positive  that  by  answering 
the  summons  he  had  worked  grievous  injury  to  his 
father. 

"I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,  lad,"  Zenas  said  after  a  time, 
as  he  came  to  understand  somewhat  of  that  which  was 
in  the  lad's  mind,  ''there's  no  sense  in  huntin'  'round 
to  gather  in  trouble.  I'm  allowin'  your  father,  with 
Downs  an'  the  boys  to  help,  will  hold  his  own  on  Silver 
Fox  Farm " 

"It  isn't  three  hours  since  you  declared  that  no  de- 
pendence could  be  put  in  the  Downs  family ;  that  they 
would  turn  against  father  whenever  John  Ed  Bingham 
raised  his  finger." 

"True,  that's  what  I  did  say,  lad;  but  when  your 
father  tells  'em  where  we've  gone,  they'd  be  the  mean- 
est kind  of  crawlin'  creeters  if  they  didn't  brace  up 
an'  show  themselves  men  until  we  could  get  back.  I 
don't  have  any  confidence  in  that  old  farmer  and  his 
two  shiftless  sons ;  but  I'm  bound  to  believe  there's  jest 
a  glimmer  of  manhood  in  'em — enough  to  hold  'em  to 
their  duty  at  such  a  time  as  this.  How  fast  is  our  boat 
goin'?" 

Paul  was  surprised  by  the  abruptness  of  the  ques- 
tion ;  but  replied  promptly,  and  with  no  little  pride : 

"The  builders  guaranteed  that  she  should  make  ten 
miles  an  hour,  and  she's  doing  her  best  now.  What 
started  you  out  on  that  tack?" 


242  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"It  stands  us  in  hand  to  keep  what  you  might  call 
dead  reckoning  so's  to  know  when  we  come,  as  near  as 
guess-work  can  tell  us,  to  the  place  where  the  yacht 
was  layin'  when  she  telegraphed  you.  Now  I'm  al- 
lowin'  we've  got  a  voyage  of  forty  miles,  an'  it's  for  us 
to  keep  pretty  sharp  watch  over  the  time,  else  we're 
like  to  run  a  good  bit  out  of  our  course." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  "NERA" 

NOT  for  one  instant  would  Paul  have  speculated 
upon  the  possibility  of  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  the  cry 
for  help  which  had  come  through  the  air ;  but  yet,  now 
when  there  was  nothing  to  be  done  save  sit  idly  in 
front  of  the  motor  to  make  certain  it  did  that  for  which 
it  had  been  intended,  he  could  not  prevent  his  thoughts 
from  going  back  to  the  desolate  island  where  his  father 
was,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  pitted  single-handed  against 
Bingham  and  his  companion,  as  well  as  every  member 
of  the  Downs  family. 

"I  can't  believe  that  the  farmer  and  his  sons  felt  as 
repentant  as  they  acted,"  he  said  after  a  long  pause, 
during  which  Zenas  had  been  straining  his  eyes  into 
the  distance,  as  if  believing  it  possible  to  see  the  dis- 
abled yacht  whose  master  had  appealed  on  the  "wings 
of  the  morning"  for  assistance. 

"Well,  s'posen  you  can't,  that  don't  change  matters, 
does  it?"  Zenas  asked  almost  sharply.  "I'm  free  to 
admit  that  I  don't  believe  they'd  have  come  down  on 
their  marrow  bones  if  your  father  hadn't  got  'em  dead 
to  rights;  but  there's  no  need,  now  we're  playin'  the 
life-boat  act,  for  us  to  hark  back  to  Barren  island 
huntin'  for  trouble.  Let's  do  this  job  up  in  good  shape 
first,  an'  then  I'll  set  to  with  you  for  a  reg'lar  spell  of 
worryin'." 

"To  think  of  what  may  be  happening  on  the  island 
243 


244  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

while  we  are  forced  to  remain  here  in  the  boat  com- 
paratively idle,  doesn't  hinder  us  from  doing  what  we 
may  in  the  way  of  rescuing  the  yachtsmen." 

'True  for  you,  lad,  but  it  makes  us  mighty  uneasy 
in  mind.  See  here,"  and  Zenas  turned  as  if  his  anger 
had  been  aroused,  to  face  the  lad.  "I've  got  my  doubts 
'bout  that  Downs  crowd,  same's  you  have;  but  when 
I'm  where  I  can't  raise  a  finger  to  prevent  them  from 
cuttin'  monkey  shines,  I  don't  count  on  frettin'  over 
it." 

Then  Zenas  fell  to  figuring  exactly  where  the  dis- 
abled craft  might  be,  and  how  they  could  best  come  at 
her,  until  Paul  had  in  a  certain  degree  banished  the 
dismal  forebodings  from  his  mind  to  speculate  upon 
the  possibility  of  being  able  to  render  the  needed  assist- 
ance. 

If  the  Hampton  boat  had  been  a  living  thing,  under- 
standing all  that  was  required  of  her,  she  could  not 
have  carried  out  her  portion  of  the  rescue  more  swiftly 
or  surely.  She  forged  steadily  ahead,  Paul  watching 
all  the  bearings  jealously  lest  they  become  heated,  and 
more  than  once  Zenas  insisted  that  the  little  craft  was 
doing  considerably  better  than  had  been  guaranteed  by 
her  builders. 

"I  allow  that  we're  headed  as  straight  for  the  place 
where  the  yacht  was  to  be  found  when  you  heard  her 
wireless  contrivance  clickin',  as  if  we  had  the  line 
marked  out  on  a  chart,"  he  said  when  they  had  been  an 
hour  or  more  on  their  errand  of  mercy  and  Barren  isl- 
and was  no  longer  to  be  seen  astern.  "The  only  trouble 
is  that  she  may  have  been  picked  up  by  some  other 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  245 

craft,  an'  we'll  go  blunderin'  'round,  same  as  you 
feared,  till  nightfall." 

"When  we  have  come  to  about  the  spot  where  you 
believed  she  was,  how  long  do  you  allow  we'd  be  war- 
ranted in  hunting?" 

"Not  more'n  a  couple  of  hours.  If  we  can't  pick 
her  up  in  that  time  I'll  allow  that  she  has  either  gone  to 
the  bottom,  or  been  taken  in  tow  by  them  as  happened 
across  her." 

"It's  a  good  deal  like  hunting  for  a  needle  in  a  hay- 
stack, after  all,"  Paul  said  with  a  long-drawn  sigh  as 
he  strove  earnestly  to  prevent  his  thoughts  from  stray- 
ing back  to  where  his  father  might,  at  that  moment, 
be  struggling  against  overwhelming  odds. 

"I  allow  it  may  be,  lad,  but  at  the  same  time  I  ain't 
goin'  to  admit  anything  of  the  kind." 

Then  Zenas  began  a  long-winded  story  of  a  rescue 
at  sea  such  as  he  had  heard  from  old  sailors,  talking 
rather  to  prevent  Paul  from  dwelling  upon  affairs  at 
the  island,  than  from  any  hope  of  really  amusing  the 
lad,  and  the  minutes  crept  on  until  the  story-teller  in- 
terrupted his  not  very  entertaining  tale  to  say  suddenly : 

"Look  at  your  watch  now,  an'  tell  me  how  long 
we've  been  away  from  the  island." 

To  Paul's  great  surprise  he  found  that  three  hours 
and  a  half  had  elapsed  since  the  Hampton  boat  came 
out  so  gallantly  from  the  dangers  of  Swallow-Tailed 
cove,  and  Zenas  cried  triumphantly  as  he  pointed  over 
the  port  bow,  at  the  same  time  that  he  changed  his 
course  slightly : 

"An'  we've  come  as  straight  for  that  'ere  yacht  as 


246  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

a  crow  could  have  flown !  Unless  I've  lost  the  use  of 
my  eyes,  there  she  is." 

"Where?"  Paul  cried  eagerly,  striving  in  vain  to 
see  on  the  horizon  anything  that  resembled  a  craft  in 
distress. 

"Look  dead  ahead  as  we're  goin'.  Can't  you  see  a 
speck  down  yonder?" 

"I  can  make  out  something  rising  and  falling  on 
the  swell ;  but  it  may  be  nothing  save  a  bit  of  floating 
timber." 

"It's  bound  to  be  more'n  that,  lad,  else  we  couldn't 
see  hide  nor  hair  of  it  so  far  away.  It's  a  steamer  of 
some  kind,  that's  certain,  for  if  they  had  any  canvas 
spread  it  would  be  glistenin'  white  in  the  sunlight  I'm 
allowin'  it's  the  same  craft  what  telegraphed  to  you, 
an'  if  that's  a  fact,  we've  done  as  pretty  a  bit  of  sail- 
orin'  as  any  man  could  wish  to  see.  Think  of  drivin' 
straight  away  from  Barren  island,  with  nothin'  more 
to  shape  a  course  on  than  what  you  got  with  the  wire- 
less, an'  hittin'  the  mark  to  a  dot!" 

It  really  was  wonderful  that  Zenas  should  have  been 
able  to  come  up  with  the  yacht  from  which  the  distress 
signals  had  been  sent,  if  indeed  yonder  tiny  speck  was 
the  Nera,  and  Paul  began  to  believe  that  his  companion 
was  an  extraordinarily  able  seaman. 

"There's  more  luck  than  wit  about  it,"  Zenas  said 
modestly  when  Paul  began  to  praise  him.  "I'm  al- 
lowin' it  was  set  down  in  the  books  that  we  should  lend 
them  poor  creeters  a  hand,  an'  this  'ere  craft  has  much 
the  same  as  come,  without  bein'  helped  by  us,  to  the 
place  we  wanted  to  find." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  247 

As  the  moments  passed  that  tiny  speck  in  the  dis- 
tance gradually  increased  in  size  and  shape  until  there 
could  no  longer  be  any  question  as  to  what  it  was,  and 
Paul  shouted  aloud  in  joy,  for  now  was  it  possible  he 
could  render  the  assistance  which  had  been  asked  for 
through  the  ether.  Even  at  that  moment  of  excite- 
ment he  smiled  at  the  thought  of  what  Mr.  Downs  and 
his  sons  might  say  regarding  wireless  telegraphy,  when 
they  knew  that  by  answering  the  appeal  which  had 
come  on  the  morning  air,  it  was  his  good  fortune  to  be 
able  to  relieve  the  suffering  of  others. 

"There  goes  her  flag!"  Zenas  cried  when  the  Hamp- 
ton boat  was  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the  disabled 
craft,  and  Paul  could  see  that  a  dark  speck  which  had 
been  waving  half-way  up  the  mast  on  which  was  the 
antenna,  was  being  raised  and  lowered  in  joyful  greet- 
ing. 

The  yacht  was  not  more  than  sixty  feet  in  length, 
and  one  could  but  be  surprised  that  such  a  small  craft 
had  been  equipped  with  a  wireless  apparatus;  but  her 
owner,  if  he  was  on  board  at  that  moment,  must  have 
congratulated  himself  on  his  wise  precaution. 

The  little  vessel's  power  was  evidently  obtained 
from  a  gasolene  or  electric  engine,  for  no  smoke-stack 
could  be  seen,  neither  did  she  carry  spars  for  canvas. 
She  was  rising  and  falling  on  the  waves  in  a  pitifully 
helpless  manner,  her  bow  cocked  high  in  the  air,  doubt- 
less to  raise  the  wounded  portion  above  the  surface, 
and  the  streams  of  water  gushing  from  the  hull  told 
how  heavily  the  sea  was  boarding  her. 

"She  hasn't  got  very  many  people  on  board,"  Paul 


248  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

said,  noting  that  no  more  than  five  or  six  men  over- 
hung the  rail  watching  the  approach  of  the  Hampton 
boat. 

"It  stands  to  reason  some  of  'em  are  below,  workin' 
for  their  lives ;  but  at  the  most  she  can't  have  so  many 
but  that  we'll  be  able  to  take  'em  all  aboard  this  craft," 
Zenas  replied,  and  Paul  cried  as  if  such  a  suggestion 
gave  him  pain : 

"Surely  you  wouldn't  think  of  abandoning  a  beauti- 
ful steamer  like  her !  If  there  has  been  no  more  dam- 
age done  than  the  crushing  of  the  bow,  it  should  be  a 
simple  task  to  repair  her." 

"Ay,  lad,  if  she  was  in  port;  but  you  mustn't  think 
that  this  boat  of  yours,  little  dandy  though  she  is,  can 
do  the  work  of  a  tug  boat.  Of  course  we're  bound  to 
get  that  yacht  inter  harbor  if  it  is  to  be  done  without 
too  great  risk;  but  I'm  doubtin'  whether  we  could 
make  much  of  a  fist  at  towin',  even  though  the  weather 
holds  fine." 

There  was  no  opportunity  for  further  speculation  as 
to  what  the  Hampton  boat  might  or  might  not  be  able 
to  do,  for  by  this  time  the  rescuers  had  come  so  near 
that  one  .of  the  men  on  board  the  yacht  leaped  up  on 
the  rail,  as  he  shouted : 

"Ahoy !  Are  you  the  people  we  talked  with  by  wire- 
less?" 

"The  very  same,"  Paul  cried  in  reply.  "Stand  by  to 
pass  us  a  line,  and  we'll  drop  just  astern  of  you.  The 
swell  is  too  heavy  for  us  to  come  alongside." 

Zenas  steered  the  Hampton  boat  in  a  wide  circle  that 
she  might  be  brought  under  the  starboard  quarter,  and 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  249 

in  a  twinkling  she  was  made  fast,  the  gentleman  who 
had  hailed  her,  and  who  was  evidently  the  owner,  lean- 
ing over  the  stern  rail  to  ask : 

"Have  you  got  power  enough  to  take  us  in  tow?" 

"Our  motor  is  only  6-horse,"  Paul  replied  doubt- 
fully. "Is  your  engine  out  of  commission  ?" 

"There  must  have  been  some  defect  in  the  tail  shaft, 
and  when,  after  striking  the  derelict  just  before  day- 
light this  morning,  the  screw  was  suddenly  reversed 
to  back  us  off,  the  entire  propeller  carried  away.  We 
are  taking  in  nearly  as  much  water  astern  as  we  can 
throw  out  with  the  pumping  motor." 

"Haven't  you  been  able  to  get  any  reply,  save  mine, 
by  the  wireless  ?" 

"We  have  been  sending  out  calls  ever  since  you 
promised  to  come  in  search  of  us,  but  have  heard  noth- 
ing. We  are  not  equipped  for  long-distance  work,  our 
apparatus  being  more  in  the  nature  of  a  plaything  than 
a  serviceable  outfit,  though,  now  since  you've  come, 
we  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that  we  dabbled  in  wire- 
less telegraphy  to  the  extent  of  putting  up  that  spar." 

"How  much  are  you  hurt?"  Zenas  interrupted. 

"The  port  bow  is  stove  just  at  the  water  line,  for  a 
width  of  five  planks.  We  have  it  patched  with  canvas, 
and  might  contrive  to  live  even  in  heavy  weather  if  it 
was  not  for  the  trouble  astern.  In  case  the  wind  comes 
up  ever  so  little  we  must  speedily  founder.  It  would 
be  selfish  for  me  to  ask  that  you  do  more  than  take  us 
off,  for  I  suppose  the  little  Nera  must  be  left  to  her 
fate,  yet  I  would  be  willing  to  pay  her  full  value  if  she 
could  be  taken  into  port." 


250  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"We  don't  want  pay  for  such  service  as  this,"  Paul 
said  quickly.  "If  we  can  tow  her,  I'm  ready  and  will- 
ing to  make  the  attempt;  but  because  of  the  situation 
of  affairs  as  we  left  them  on  Barren  island,  I  do  not 
feel  warranted  in  spending  very  much  extra  time.  As 
it  is,  we  could  not  return  to  that  place,  doing  our  best, 
before  dark,  and  then  you  would  be  twenty-two  miles 
from  the  mainland." 

"Is  there  a  harbor  at  the  island?"  the  yachtsman 
asked. 

"Yes,  a  good  one  for  a  craft  as  small  as  this." 

"Suppose  one  of  you  come  aboard  and  look  us  over? 
But  first  it  is  best  to  introduce  ourselves.  I  am  Chester 
Sawtelle,  owner  and  master  of  the  Nera.  The  gentle- 
men next  me  are  Joseph  Lumley,  and  Samuel  Brown- 
son,  both  of  New  York,  and  my  guests.  Our  crew 
numbers  seven,  including  the  steward  and  cook." 

"And  I  am  Paul  Simpson,  whose  father  is  experi- 
menting with  raising  silver  foxes  on  Barren  island. 
My  comrade  is  Zenas  Gushing,  who  is  to  help  me  in 
the  work." 

"Raising  silver  foxes!"  Mr.  Sawtelle  cried  in  sur- 
prise, and  then  realizing  that  he  had  sent  for  assistance 
to  save  the  lives  of  himself  and  his  companions,  rather 
than  to  gain  information  of  fox  raising,  he  added  in  a 
tone  of  entreaty,  "Will  you  come  on  board,  Master 
Simpson,  look  at  the  extent  of  our  injuries,  and  de- 
cide whether  you  will  make  an  attempt  to  tow  the 
yacht  to  Barren  island?  I  have  not  as  yet  thanked 
you  for  answering " 

"There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  do  so.  It  would 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  251 

be  a  mighty  poor  kind  of  a  fellow  who  wouldn't  do  all 
he  could  at  such  a  time  as  this,  when  human  lives  are 
in  danger.  Zenas  had  better  go  aboard,  for  he  knows 
more  about  such  matters  than  I  do." 

Gushing  did  not  wait  for  the  matter  to  be  discussed. 
He  had  been  burning  with  curiosity  to  see  the  yacht 
from  her  own  deck,  and  the  moment  his  name  was 
mentioned  he  scrambled  like  a  monkey  over  the  stern 
rail,  using  both  hands  and  feet  to  work  his  way  up 
the  hawser  by  which  the  Hampton  boat  was  made 
fast. 

Mr.  Sawtelle  and  his  friends  disappeared  from  view 
of  Paul  when  Zenas  was  on  board,  and  during  ten 
long  minutes  nothing  could  be  seen  of  them.  Then  it 
was  that  Gushing  showed  himself  as  he  over-hung  the 
stern  rail,  and  said  in  a  business-like  tone: 

"I've  got  the  idee,  Paul,  that  it  wouldn't  be  a  ter- 
rible job  to  yank  this  'ere  craft  inter  sich  a  port  as  can 
be  found  on  Barren  island.  Now  that  the  screw  has 
been  carried  away,  there's  nothin'  to  drag  water,  an* 
I'm  allowin'  we  could  make  three  or  four  miles  an  hour 
with  her  behind  us." 

"At  that  rate  we  wouldn't  make  Barren  island,  even 
if  the  weather  held  good,  until  morning,"  Paul  said  in 
dismay. 

"Ay,  it  would  take  as  long  as  that." 

"And  father  may  be  in;  sore  need  of  us  this  very 
moment !" 

"He  may,  an'  then  agin  it  might  be  the  other  way. 
I  don't  allow  John  Ed  would  show  up  very  strong  till 
that  'ere  schooner  got  inter  the  cove " 


252  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"She  was  to  leave  Seaview  this  morning,  and  may 
be  there  even  now!" 

"You  don't  allow,  lad,  there's  any  chance  of  that! 
She's  got  to  have  wind  in  order  to  make  twenty-two 
miles  within  twelve  hours,  an'  I'm  askin'  you  whether 
the  breeze  is  piping  up  very  strong?" 

Until  this  moment  Paul  had  not  realized  that  there 
was  no  more  than  the  suspicion  of  a  breeze  to  be  felt. 
During  the  voyage  from  Barren  island  the  movement  of 
the  Hampton  boat  through  the  water  had  been  suffi- 
cient to  set  the  air  in  motion  directly  in  her  vicinity; 
but  now  she  was  lying  still,  the  lad  understood  that  the 
wind  had  died  out  into  a  flat  calm. 

"Unless  a  breeze  springs  up  John  Ed's  schooner  will 
drift  'round  outside  of  Seaview,  an'  I  ain't  countin' 
we'll  get  anythin'  that  might  be  called  a  gale  'twixt 
now  an'  mornin'.  The  chances  are  even,  if  we  take 
this  'ere  yacht  in  tow,  that  we'll  get  to  Barren  island  in 
time  to  lend  a  hand  in  whatever  may  be  goin'  on.  I've 
told  Mr.  Sawtelle  jest  how  you  are  fixed,  an'  he  agrees 
not  to  yip  if  you  cast  off  the  tow  line  before  we've 
made  a  mile.  Then  agin,  Paul,"  and  here  Zenas  low- 
ered his  voice  to  a  whisper,  "can't  you  see  that  if  we 
take  this  crowd  back  to  the  island,  John  Ed  won't  be 
able  to  cut  many  of  his  didoes,  seein's  how  we'll  have 
help  enough  to  knock  all  the  mischief  out  of  his  ugly 
head?" 

This  last  argument  was  a  strong  one.  Paul  had 
asked  himself  more  than  once  since  the  Hampton  boat 
left  Barren  island,  how  his  father,  Zenas  and  himself 
would  be  able  to  oppose  the  crew  of  the  schooner  if 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  253 

they  should  boldly  attempt  to  land  in  search  of,  or  to 
aid  Bingham,  without  being  able  to  arrive  at  any  satis- 
factory conclusion. 

If,  however,  the  Nera  might  be  towed  into  the  cove, 
her  crew  could,  and  undoubtedly  would,  do  all  in  their 
power  to  assist  the  owner  of  Silver  Fox  Farm,  and 
while  they  remained  there  at  anchor  matters  would  be 
conducted  in  strict  accordance  with  his  father's  wishes. 

"Seems  like  a  mighty  good  trick,  to  happen  along 
there  with  a  gang  big  enough  to  swallow  the  Downs 
family  as  well  as  John  Ed  an'  his  friend,  don't  it?" 
Zenas  suggested  with  the  intent  to  influence  Paul's 
decision.  "It  wouldn't  be  a  case  of  keepin'  awake 
night  after  night,  stealin'  forty  winks  of  sleep  here  an' 
forty  there;  but  we'd  have  a  force  that  would  make 
standin'  guard  seem  like  child's  play." 

"Do  you  really  believe  we  can  tow  the  yacht?" 

"Indeed  I  do,  lad.  You  wouldn't  hesitate  to  hook 
on  to  Captain  Tobi's  sloop,  an'  'cordin'  to  the  build  of 
this  craft  she'll  slip  through  the  water  a  good  deal 
easier  than  that  clumsy  old  drogher." 

"If  the  wind  springs  up,  so  that  there  is  danger  the 
schooner  can  get  over  from  Seaview,  I'd  feel  that  we 
must  make  all  speed  for  the  island,  even  if  this  yacht 
was  left  to  sink." 

"Mr.  Sawtelle  understands  that  part  of  it,  lad,  for 
I've  made  the  whole  thing  plain,  an'  he  agrees  not  to 
say  a  word  if  you  make  up  your  mind  to  abandon 
this  craft,  after  trkin'  all  hands  off." 

"We'll  try  it,"  Paul  replied,  speaking  doubtfully,  as 
if  not  thoroughly  convinced  he  was  acting  the  wiser 


254  THE  WIREtESS  STATION 

part,  and  when  the  announcement  had  been  made  Mr. 
Sawtelle  showed  his  head  above  the  rail. 

"I  didn't  want  to  urge  you  to  that  which  you  were 
opposed,  Master  Simpson,"  he  said  in  a  tone  of  satis- 
faction; "but  now  that  you  have  decided  to  help  us 
save  the  little  Nera,  I  must  say  that  you  shall  be  paid 
well  for  the  service." 

"I'm  not  doing  it  for  money,"  Paul  cried  stoutly. 
"If  there  was  no  more  to  it  than  that,  I'd  have  been 
bound  for  Barren  island  half  an  hour  ago,  for  I  feel 
very  anxious  concerning  father." 

"I  believe  I  understand  what  is  in  your  mind,  and 
am  free  to  confess  that  it  seems  to  me  he  will  be  in 
little  danger  between  now  and  to-morrow  morning, 
when  we  should  arrive  if  the  weather  holds  good. 
Those  men  who  are  bent  on  killing  the  foxes  have  no 
reason  to  believe  you  will  remain  away  very  long, 
therefore,  if  they  have  common  sense,  must  wait  until 
they  know  exactly  where  you  may  be  found,  in  order 
to  safe-guard  themselves.  When  we  do  arrive  it  will 
probably  be  quite  a  while  before  I  can  get  a  tug  to  tow 
the  yacht  to  where  she  can  be  repaired,  and  in  the 
meantime  your  father  will  have  the  assistance  of  all 
our  crew  and  company." 

"That  last  will  be  very  welcome,  sir,"  Paul  replied, 
and  added  hurriedly,  "There  is  no  good  reason  why 
we  should  spend  time  talking  when  we  might  be  going 
ahead.  I  suppose  we  will  do  better  to  take  a  long  tow- 
line." 

"That  is  my  idea,  unless  you  pull  the  Nera  down 
by  the  head  so  much  that  the  water  comes  in  through 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  255 

the  bow.  Will  you  take  one  of  my  engineers  aboard 
to  spell  you  at  the  motor  ?" 

"I  had  rather  stay  here  myself.  I  know  the  boat 
better  than  a  stranger  can,  and  will  be  able  to  get  more 
speed  out  of  her." 

"We'll  send  a  hawser  aboard  at  once,"  and  both  Mr. 
Sawtelle  and  Zenas  disappeared  from  view  again. 

In  the  bow  of  the  Hampton  boat,  made  fast  to  the 
timbers  on  either  side,  was  a  stout  timber  to  which  the 
anchor  cable  could  be  made  fast,  and  here  Paul  de- 
cided to  run  the  towing  line,  belaying  it  at  the  stern  in 
such  manner  that  it  would  hold  steady. 

Five  minutes  later  Zenas  was  on  board  with  Paul, 
making  arrangements  for  the  task  before  them,  and 
from  the  deck  of  the  Nera  Mr.  Sawtelle  gave  advice 
now  and  then,  although  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
Gushing  was  better  skilled  in  such  work  than  the 
owner  of  the  yacht. 

When  everything  was  in  readiness  Paul  sent  his 
craft  ahead  slowly  until  the  slack  of  the  line  could  be 
taken  up,  and  then  came  two  or  three  anxious  moments 
before  headway  was  gained  on  the  disabled  yacht,  for 
it  was  a  grave  question  as  to  how  much  the  Hampton 
boat  might  be  able  to  do. 

"Now  she's  got  her!"  Zenas  cried  triumphantly  as 
the  small  boat  forged  slowly  ahead,  swinging  the  Nera 
around.  "She'll  do  the  trick  in  great  shape,  an'  won't 
turn  a  hair!  Talk  about  towin'  with  this  'ere  craft! 
I've  seen  tugs  twice  or  three  times  her  size  who 
wouldn't  make  as  good  a  fist  of  it." 

"She  surely  is  doing  well,"  Paul  added  as  he  alter- 


256  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

nately  glanced  astern,  and  then  at  the  motor  to  make 
certain  it  was  working  properly.  "I  believe  you  were 
right  in  saying  that  we  could  tow  the  yacht  more 
easily  than  we  could  Captain  Tobi's  sloop." 

"I'm  sure  of  it,"  Zenas  shouted  in  glee.  "We'll  have 
that  dandy  little  craft  in  the  cove  by  sunrise,  an'  then  I 
allow  it  won't  be  sich  a  terrible  job,  with  the  crew  of 
the  Nera  to  lend  a  hand,  to  bottle  John  Ed  Bingham 
up  so's  he  can't  spin  another  thread  against  Silver  Fox 
Farm." 

Paul  was  not  so  confident  that  the  run  would  be  a 
short  one;  he  realized  that  at  any  moment  matters 
might  become  so  complicated  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  reach  Barren  island  for  a  long  time,  and,  per- 
haps, without  having  accomplished  the  purpose  for 
which  they  were  then  working. 

An  accident  to  the  motor;  the  fouling  of  the  hawser 
with  the  Hampton  boat's  screw ;  a  sudden  and  unfavor- 
able change  of  weather — any  or  all  of  these  might 
work  an  injury  that  could  not  speedily  be  repaired,  and 
in  the  meanwhile  Mr.  Simpson  would  be  alone  among 
enemies,  with  more  than  a  possibility  that  the  venture 
of  raising  silver  foxes  would  be  wrecked. 

Because  of  these  fears  which  crowded  into  Paul's 
mind  despite  all  his  efforts  to  put  them  far  from  him, 
the  lad  was  unusually  careful  with  the  motor,  oiling 
here  and  cooling  there,  as  he  kept  a  jealous  eye  on  the 
snake-like  towing  line  that  alternately  sank  beneath  the 
surface,  and  again  raised  high  in  the  air  with  the 
water  streaming  from  its  entire  length. 

"We're  doing  better  than   three  miles   an   hour," 


'AHOY!    ARE   YOU    THE    PEOPLE   WE   TALKED    WITH    BY   WIRELESS?' 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  257 

Zenas  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction  after  thirty  minutes 
had  passed,  and  the  gallant  little  boat  was  ploughing 
her.  way  steadily  onward  dragging  the  larger  craft 
behind  her.  "I'm  .wonderin'  how  they're  gettin'  on 
aboard  the  yacht.  The  power  pumps  have  been 
workin'  reg'lar,  an'  within  the  past  ten  minutes  I've 
noticed  what  seems  to  be  a  couple  of  hand  pumps  on 
deck  well  for'ard." 

"It  may  be  that  the  strain  we  put  on  her  is  drag- 
ging the  bow  under,  as  Mr.  Sawtelle  was  afraid  might 
be  the  case,"  Paul  suggested,  but  his  companion  re- 
plied confidently: 

"I  don't  allow  it's  anythin'  of  the  kind  that's 
troublin'  'em.  Most  likely  the  leak  at  the  stern  is 
opened  a  bit  wider  since  she  began  to  move  through 
the  water.  It  would  be  a  big  pity  to  lose  her  now, 
when  we've  proved  that  this  'ere  craft  can  snake  her 
along  in  great  shape." 

"Do  you  mean  that  she  might  sink?"  Paul  asked, 
thus  suddenly  learning  of  a  fresh  cause  for  anxiety. 

"Of  course  that  is  what  will  happen  if  they  can't 
keep  the  water  down.  It's  odd  that  we  forgot  to  make 
some  plan  about  givin'  signals.  With  the  yacht's  en- 
gine out  of  commission  they  can't  sound  the  whistle, 
an'  things  might  go  all  at  sixes  an'  sevens  without  our 
knowin'  there  was  any  trouble." 

"Don't,  Zenas,  don't,"  the  lad  cried  nervously. 
"What  with  thinking  of  all  that  may  be  happening  to 
father  at  this  very  moment,  and  the  chances  of  our 
motor's  breaking  down,  I  can't  bear  much  more  in  the 
way  of  worry." 


258  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Give  over  fussin',  an'  take  things  as  they  come. 
That's  the  only  way  to  get  along  smooth-like  in  this 
world.  You  can  keep  yourself  all  haired  up  over  this 
or  that  without  changin'  it  the  least  little  bit.  It's  way 
off  the  best  plan  to  trust  the  present  without  strainin' 
yourself  to  look  ahead  after  what  might  possibly 
happen." 

Then  Zenas  began  whistling  vigorously,  and  Paul 
cried  with  no  slight  show  of  temper  because  of  his 
anxiety : 

"Of  course  I  don't  pin  my  faith  on  signs;  but  every 
sailor  knows  that  a  wind  may  be  raised  by  whistling 
for  it,  and  it  wouldn't  take  much  of  a  breeze  to  put  an 
end  to  our  job  of  towing." 

"All  right,  lad,"  was  the  cheery  reply.  "I'll  take  to 
smokin',  an'  then  my  mouth  will  be  too  busy  to  get  me 
into  mischief.  But  all  the  same,  we're  gettin'  along 
famously,  an'  are  bound  to  see  Barren  island  before 
daylight." 

"Can  you  hold  your  course  in  the  dark?" 

"I'd  almost  agree  to  do  it  with  my  eyes  shut;  but 
after  sunset,  when  the  stars  are  shinin',  is  the  very 
easiest  time  for  steerin'.  It's  a  big  pity  we  didn't  have 
a  lantern  aboard  so's  you  could  keep  watch  of  the 
motor." 

"I  don't  need  one,"  was  the  curt  reply,  and  during 
the  hour  which  followed  not  a  word  was  spoken  aboard 
the  Hampton  boat. 

Then  it  was  that  Zenas  broke  the  silence  by  saying 
half  to  himself : 

"It  took  us  nigh  to  four  hours  comin'  out,  an'  at  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  259 

speed  we're  makin',  the  island  should  be  well  under  our 
bow  by  day-break.  We'll  have  to  haul  in  considerable 
slack  of  the  hawser  before  beginnin'  to  swing  'round 
the  point." 

"There's  little  need  to  make  arrangements  for  any- 
thing of  that  kind  when  we're  not  more  than  half-way 
on  the  run,"  Paul  replied  grimly. 

There  is  no  real  need  why  any  attempt  be  made  to 
set  down  all  that  was  said  by  the  crew  of  the  Hampton 
boat  during  that  long  night,  when  she  forged  steadily, 
though  slowly,  ahead,  drawing  after  her  the  disabled 
yacht,  and  every  turn  of  the  screw  brought  Paul  just 
so  much  nearer  to  his  father,  who  might  even  at  that 
moment  be  needing  him  sorely. 

The  lad  watched  the  motor  through  all  the  hours  of 
darkness  as  a  cat-  watches  a  mouse,  and  at  the  helm 
stood  Zenas,  careful  to  hold  the  craft  steadily  on  her 
course,  until  the  darkness  of  night  began  to  give  way 
before  the  coming  of  a  new  day,  and  even  while  the 
gloom  was  yet  so  dense  that  Paul  could  not  distinguish 
the  outlines  of  the  yacht,  save  by  the  lights  she  dis- 
played, the  helmsman  shouted  joyfully: 

"There's  that  blessed  Barren  island!  I  never  ex- 
pected I'd  be  glad  to  see  it;  but  it's  lookin'  mighty 
good  jest  now." 

"I  can't  see  anything,"  the  lad  said  impatiently  as 
he  strove  in  vain  to  pierce  the  gloom  with  his  eyes. 

"Mighty  nigh  dead  ahead  it  lays.  Can't  you  see  the 
loom  of  the  land  now  ?  It  looks  somethin'  like  a  cloud 
on  the  horizon." 

"How  do  you  know  that  is  Barren  island?     We 


260  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

may  have  left  it  far  away  on  either  bow,  and  be  miles 
off  our  course." 

"We  might  have  done  all  that  fool  business ;  but  we 
haven't,"  was  the  confident  reply.  "I  ain't  settin'  my- 
self up  for  much  of  a  sailorman ;  but  when  I  can't  hold 
a  course  on  a  clear  night  like  this  has  been,  I'll  hug  the 
land  mighty  close.  Watch  out  now,  an'  you'll  see 
Silver  Fox  Farm  begin  to  loom  up  good  an'  big." 

There  was  little  need  to  urge  this  last.  Save  when 
he  was  busied  about  the  motor  Paul  never  took  his 
eyes  from  the  dark  shadow  seemingly  so  far  away  on 
the  horizon,  and  as  the  light  grew  stronger  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  island  rise  out  of  the  sea,  as 
it  were,  until  he  could  plainly  distinguish  the  general 
outlines. 

"We  should  be  there  in  three  hours,"  he  said  half 
to  himself,  and  Zenas  added  stoutly : 

"Call  it  two,  an'  you'll  be  nearer  the  truth.  We 
can't  be  more'n  three  miles  away.  Hello !  Don't  that 
look  like  a  fore-an'-aft  schooner  jest  beyond  the 
point?" 

"That's  what  it  is !"  Paul  cried  excitedly.  "It  must 
be  the  craft  Bingham  was  expecting.  She  don't  seem 
to  have  much  way  on." 

"Only  driftin'  'round.  This  'ere  breeze  ain't  strong 
enough  to  give  her  much  more'n  steerage  way,  an'  un- 
less somethin'  begins  to  hum  mighty  soon,  we'll  be 
inter  the  cove  ahead  of  her." 

"If  it  really  is  the  schooner,  then  we  know  to  a  cer- 
tainty that  nothing  can  have  gone  wrong  with  father, 
for  it  isn't  reasonable  to  suppose  John  Ed  would  at- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  261 

tempt  any  serious  mischief  until  the  remainder  of  his 
gang  were  with  him." 

"I'll  walk  ashore  this  very  minute  if  yonder  schooner 
ain't  the  craft  that  landed  the  old  smuggler!  There 
wasn't  sich  a  dreadful  good  chance  to  see  her  that 
night;  but  I  had  time  to  get  her  general  trim  pretty 
well  in  mind." 

"If  it  is  she,  they  are  bold  to  stand  in  toward  the 
island  in  the  day-time." 

"They  can't  help  themselves,  lad,"  Zenas  cried  with 
his  peculiar  purring  laugh.  "Seein's  there  ain't  any 
wind  to  speak  of,  an'  that  headin'  her  if  she  should  try 
to  sneak  back  to  the  mainland,  what  else  can  she  do  but 
keep  on  driftin'  ?  It's  all  comin'  our  way,  Paul  Simp- 
son," and  now  Zenas  showed  signs  of  excitement. 
"We'll  be  inter  the  cove  ahead  of  that  pirate,  an'  when 
he  stands  in  to-night  to  take  off  John  Ed,  we'll  have 
men  enough  at  our  backs  to  give  the  whole  crowd  the 
surprise  of  their  lives!" 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE  SCHOONER 

Now  for  the  first  time  did  Paul  feel  proud  because 
of  what  he  and  Zenas  had  done  during  the  twenty- 
four  hours  just  passed.  Until  this  moment  he  had 
been  so  anxious  concerning  his  father's  safety  that 
there  was  no  room  in  his  mind  for  anything  else. 
When,  however,  it  appeared  certain  that  the  schooner 
John  Ed  Bingham  was  expecting  would  come  to  take 
off  him  and  his  friend,  had  not  as  yet  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  island,  there  could  be  little  doubt  but  that 
Mr.  Simpson  had  been  unmolested. 

That  he  had  received  a  wireless  message  from  far 
out  to  sea,  and  answered  it  so  successfully,  was  a  mat- 
ter in  which  Paul  might  justly  take  pride,  and  more 
particularly  so  since  it  was  probable  he  had  been  the 
means  of  saving  human  life. 

"We  haven't  done  a  bad  job,"  he  said  in  a  tone  of 
satisfaction,  after  having  convinced  himself  that  the 
schooner  to  be  seen  to  windward  was  the  same  craft 
which  had  been  under  repairs  at  Seaview. 

"Jest  found  that  out,  eh?"  Zenas  asked  with  a  purr- 
ing laugh.  "Why,  lad,  the  very  same  thing  has  been 
in  my  mind  ever  since  we  took  this  'ere  hawser  aboard. 
I  don't  allow  that  I'm  very  well  posted  on  what  you 
call  wireless  telegraphy ;  but  when  I  know  that  a  couple 
of  boys  have  rigged  up  what'll  bring  a  message  across 
the  sea  from  them  who  are  in  distress,  likely  to  go  to 

262 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  263 

the  bottom  at  any  minute,  I  say  to  myself  that  it's  a 
big  thing.  Then,  when  you  an'  I  can  run  out  on  ac- 
count of  that  same  message,  not  callin'  ourselves  sailor- 
men,  an'  pick  up  the  disabled  yacht  same's  if  we  was 
walkin'  across  a  pasture,  I  reckon  it's  another  big 
thing.  Add  to  all  that  this  towin'  a  craft  like  the 
Nera  with  a  Hampton  boat,  forty  miles  or  more,  an' 
if  we  ain't  got  the  right  to  throw  our  chests  way  out 
I  don't  know  who  has." 

"Father  will  be  pleased,"  Paul  said  as  if  speaking  to 
himself,  and  Zenas  added  emphatically: 

"Pleased?  That  won't  be  any  name  for  it!  He 
ought'er  say  to  himself  that  even  if  Silver  Fox  Farm 
goes  to  everlastin'  smash,  he's  made  a  big  haul  jest 
by  findin'  out  he's  got  a  son  who  can  get  up  an'  get 
same's  you've  been  doin'  since  this  fox  business  was 
started." 

"Now  you  are  laying  it  on  so  thick  that  I'll  be  stiff- 
necked  with  pride,"  Paul  replied,  his  face  flushing  with 
pleasure  even  though  he  was  not  inclined  to  admit  that 
all  the  praise  was  warranted. 

"An'  you've  got  a  good  right  to  be,  same's  Ned 
Bartlett  has.  If  you  two  hadn't  been  foolin'  'round 
with  that  'ere  wireless  contrivance  last  spring,  an'  had 
brains  enough  to  know  how  to  run  the  thing,  the  silver 
fox  scheme  would  have  gone  to  smash  four  days  ago, 
an'  this  very  minute  that  dandy  little  yacht  would  be 
driftin'  'round  outside  threatenin'  to  drown  all  hands 
on  board.  Stiff-necked !  Why  you  couldn't  be  blamed 
if  you  didn't  look  at  us  ordinary  folks  agin." 

"There!    The  schooner  is  standing  about!"     Paul 


264  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

cried  suddenly  as  he  pointed  to  windward,  and  Zenas 
looked  around  with  the  air  of  a  weather  prophet,  as  he 
cried  exultantly: 

"Say,  we  didn't  get  here  any  too  soon,  lad.  The 
wind  is  freshenin'  mighty  fast.  Look  at  them  clouds 
that  have  begun  to  gather  since  sunrise.  We're  goin' 
to  have  all  the  breeze  that'll  be  needed  'twixt  now  an' 
night.  What  would  them  as  are  on  board  the  Nera 
be  thinkin'  about  if  she  was  driftin'  'round  same  as 
when  we  found  her,  while  the  sea  is  beginnin'  to  get 
lumpy  ?  Even  as  it  is,  they'll  have  to  work  the  pumps 
mighty  lively  to  keep  the  water  down." 

"But  the  schooner?" 

"Ay,  the  comin'  of  the  breeze  is  luck  for  her,  'cause 
now  she  can  run  down  out'er  sight  to  wait  till  dark, 
when  I'm  allowin'  we'll  make  them  as  are  on  board 
dance  a  tune  that  won't  be  to  their  likin',  if  so  be  they 
try  to  lend  John  Ed  a  hand." 

An  hour  later  the  Hampton  boat,  with  the  Nera 
towing  astern,  had  come  so  near  Barren  island  that 
Zenas  was  making  a  long  circle  in  order  to  fetch  the 
entrance  of  the  cove  without  running  any  risk  of 
swinging  the  yacht  ashore  on  the  point,  and  Paul  was 
taking  in  the  slack  of  the  hawser  to  shorten  it. 

On  the  island  near  the  wireless  station  could  be  seen 
a  group  of  four  gazing  earnestly  at  the  on-coming 
craft,  and  Paul  knew  full  well  that  it  was  made  up  of 
his  father,  Mr.  Downs  and  the  two  boys. 

"I  wonder  what  Sam  and  Ernest  will  have  to  say 
against  that  'contraption'  of  mine,  now  that  they  must 
understand  I  did  really  get  a  message  'on  air'  ?"  Paul 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  265 

said  gleefully,  and  Zenas  cried  with  a  gurgle  of  de- 
light: 

"It'll  make  'em  sit  up  an'  take  notice,  I  reckon !  An' 
it  ain't  all  the  surprise  we'll  give  'em  'twixt  now  an' 
the  time  we  get  this  'ere  fox  farm  runnin'  in  good 
shape.  They'll  find  out  that  what  your  father  says  is 
bound  to  go,  an'  John  Ed  Bingham  ain't  in  it  for  a 
little  bit,  no  matter  how  much  he  blusters." 

The  crew  of  the  yacht,  seeing  that  Paul  would 
shorten  the  towing  line,  hauled  in  on  it  with  a  will, 
until,  before  Zenas  had  swung  the  Hampton  boat 
around  sufficiently,  the  Nera  was  not  more  than  thirty 
feet  astern. 

"You  have  done  a  good  job,  lad,"  Mr.  Sawtelle 
shouted  from  the  bow  of  his  yacht.  "You  are  deserv- 
ing of  even  more  praise  for  having  put  up  a  wireless 
station  that  was  effective,  than  for  the  work  of  towing. 
Take  it  all  in  all,  and  I  am  of  the  belief  that  we  owe 
you  our  lives,  for  by  this  time,  because  of  the  wind 
having  come  up  so  rapidly,  the  Nera  couldn't  have  re- 
mained afloat  an  hour.  Even  as  it  is,  we  have  been 
forced  to  use  hand  pumps  in  order  to  save  her  from 
foundering." 

"I'm  mighty  glad  we're  here,"  Paul  replied,  "and 
the  greater  portion  of  the  credit  is  due  to  this  Hamp- 
ton boat.  Hasn't  she  worked  like  a  lady?" 

"Indeed  she  has,  my  boy,  and  you  have  good  reason 
to  be  proud  of  her." 

Then  Zenas  gave  the  word  for  the  crew  of  the  Nera 
to  stand  by  ready  for  mooring,  and  he  swung  the  helm 
hard  up,  thus  allowing  the  larger  craft  to  glide  for- 


266  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

ward  from  the  momentum  already  given,  until  two 
minutes  later  when  she  was  well  up  the  cove,  but  still 
in  deep  water,  he  shouted : 

"Let  go  your  anchor!"  and  the  task  of  life-saving 
and  wrecking  was  come  to  a  successful  end. 

Paul  decided  that  it  would  be  better  to  lay  the 
Hampton  boat  alongside  the  Nera,  in  case  she  might 
be  needed  suddenly.  Then,  after  Mr.  Sawtelle  had  said 
he  would  go  on  shore  as  soon  as  practicable,  the  lad  and 
Zenas  landed  in  the  yacht's  tender,  met  at  the  water's 
edge  by  Mr.  Simpson,  Mr.  Downs,  Sam  and  Ernest. 

Paul's  father  clasped  him  in  his  arms  immediately 
he  stepped  on  the  beach,  kissing  the  lad  on  both  cheeks, 
after  which  he  said  in  a  tone  which  brought  a  deep 
flush  of  pride  to  Paul's  cheeks  and  a  flood  of  affection 
to  his  heart : 

"Afyson!" 

"I'm  mighty  glad  to  be  back  and  know  that  nothing 
has  gone  wrong  with  you,"  Paul  said  heartily  as  he  re- 
turned his  father's  fervent  embrace.  "I  have  worried 
all  the  time  for  fear  the  schooner  would  put  in  while 
we  were  away,  and  Mr.  Bingham  be  able  to  do  as  he 
pleased." 

"We  haven't  seen  the  men  since  you  went  away. 
They  have  not  shown  themselves  at  the  farm-house  for 
food;  but  it  isn't  probable  either  has  suffered  from 
hunger,  for  this  morning  I  saw  where  they  had  built 
a  fire  and  roasted  lobsters." 

"Who  gave  them  the  lobsters?"  Paul  asked  sus- 
piciously as  he  glanced  toward  the  farmer,  and  his 
father  replied  quickly: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  267 

"There  has  been  no  treachery,  my  son.  It  would 
be  a  simple  matter  for  them  to  catch  lobsters  at 
low  water  by  poking  with  sticks  around  the  rocks. 
I  have  spent  the  greater  portion  of  my  time  at  Mr. 
Downs's  house,  therefore  know  beyond  the  possibility 
of  a  doubt  that  matters  have  gone  as  I  would  have 
them." 

"Do  you  believe  Bingham  has  been  able  to  do  any 
harm  to  the  foxes?" 

"It  is  possible,  but  not  very  probable.  I  spent  two 
hours  or  more  yesterday,  after  you  left,  walking  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  timbered  land,  and  the  men  couldn't 
have  moved  about  very  much  without  showing  them- 
selves. I  cannot  believe  any  very  great  harm  has  been 
done  as  yet." 

Then  Mr.  Simpson  half  turned  as  if  to  go  toward 
the  farm-house,  and  Mr.  Downs,  who  had  been  shak- 
ing Zenas  vigorously  by  the  hand,  evidently  congratu- 
lating him  upon  what  had  been  done,  came  forward  as 
he  said  to  Paul: 

"After  this,  lad,  nobody  shall  laugh  at  that  'ere 
wireless  contraption  of  yours  while  I'm  'round,  an'  yet 
I  never  would  have  believed  words  could  be  sent  on 
the  air  in  such  a  way  that  they'd  stop  at  your  bird 
cage.  It's  the  most  wonderful  thing  I  ever  heard  tell 
about.  I  declare  to  goodness  if  it  don't  even  beat 
raisin'  silver  foxes  by  hand." 

"How  did  the  people  on  that  steamer  happen  to 
know  just  where  to  send  you  word  that  she  was  dis- 
abled?" Sam  asked,  without  venturing  to  indulge  in 
that  grin  which  had  been  so  annoying  to  Paul. 


268  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"You  had  better  let  me  explain  the  working  of  the 
wireless  some  time  when  both  of  us  have  an  idle  hour, 
and  once  you've  got  the  idea  in  mind,  the  thing  will 
seem  very  simple." 

"But  how  did  they  know  you  had  the  contraption 
here  on  this  island?"  Sam  persisted,  and  Paul  replied 
with  a  laugh: 

"They  didn't  know  it  A  person  trying  to  send  a 
message  on  air,  as  you  call  it,  causes,  by  aid  of  his 
telegraph  key,  certain  vibrations  in  the  atmosphere, 
which,  radiating  in  one  direction,  may  be  caught  up  by 
any  station  within  a  certain  radius.  Perhaps  you  will 
understand  it  better  by  thinking  of  a  small  pond  of 
water,  into  the  middle  of  which  a  rock  has  been  thrown, 
when  ripples  come  up  on  the  surface,  growing  larger 
and  larger  until  either  reaching  the  shore,  or  dying 
away,  according  to  the  power  given  to  the  rock.  So 
it  is  in  the  air:  the  wave  sounds  come  up,  and  they 
might  be  caught  by  a  dozen  stations,  if  there  were  so 
many  within  the  working  power  of  the  apparatus  from 
which  the  message  was  sent." 

Sam  scratched  his  head  in  perplexity;  Ernest  stood 
open-mouthed  as  if  he  would  absorb  the  information 
through  his  throat ;  but  neither  of  the  boys  ventured  to 
cast  discredit  upon  Paul's  "contraption."  Like  their 
father,  they  had  come  to  realize  that  the  "bird  cage" 
suspended  between  the  two  spars  near  the  head  of 
Swallow-Tailed  cove  was  the  result  of  a  marvellous 
discovery,  the  proof  of  which  was  the  presence  of  the 
Nera  in  the  harbor. 

"What's  the  matter  with  the  steamer?"  Mr.  Downs 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  269 

asked,  and  Zenas  took  it  upon  himself  to  explain,  say- 
ing in  conclusion: 

"She  will  have  to  lay  here  till  Paul  can  send  a  mes- 
sage to  Ned,  an'  get  him  to  telegraph  overland  for  a 
tug  from  Portland.  Meanwhile  'cordin'  to  my  way  of 
thinkin',  Mr.  Sawtelle  can  do  better  than  keep  the 
pumps  goin'.  If  I  was  in  his  place,  I'd  build  a  raft 
around  her,  with  hawsers  running  under  her  keel,  an' 
then  she  might  lay  here  all  summer  without  danger  of 
sinking." 

"Where  would  you  get  timbers  for  the  raft?" 
Ernest  asked  curiously. 

"I'd  hire  your  father  to  get  'em,  if  so  be  Mr.  Simp- 
son allowed  it  could  be  done  without  disturbin'  the 
foxes.  So  you  haven't  seen  hide  nor  hair  of  John  Ed, 
eh?" 

"He  won't  dare  to  show  himself  while  Mr.  Simpson 
stays  'round  the  house,  an'  we  boys  haven't  left  the 
place  since  you  went  away,  so's  to  prove  that  we  don't 
have  any  truck  with  him." 

"It's  a  good  scheme  to  let  Paul's  father  have  all  the 
proof  he's  needin'  that  you're  playin'  square."  Zenas 
said  dryly,  and  he  would  have  followed  Mr.  Simpson 
and  Paul,  who  were  evidently  intending  to  go  to  the 
wireless  station,  but  that  Mr.  Sawtelle  hailed  from  the 
deck  of  the  yacht : 

"Ahoy!  The  Nera  is  not  so  much  of  a  wreck  that 
we  can't  serve  meals,  and  breakfast  is  just  being 
put  on  the  table.  Ask  Master  Simpson,  his  father, 
and  Zenas  to  come  aboard  and  take  pot  luck  with 
us." 


270  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  invitation  was  accepted 
without  hesitation,  and  during  the  meal  many  plans 
were  laid,  not  only  regarding  the  safety  of  the  yacht, 
but  for  the  furtherance  of  the  silver  fox  scheme. 

Mr.  Sawtelle  would  have  spoken  at  considerable 
length  regarding  the  amount  of  salvage  which  should 
be  paid  to  Paul  and  Zenas,  for,  as  he  stated,  there  was 
no  question  but.  that  the  yacht  would  have  foundered, 
possibly  carrying  down  with  her  some  of  the  crew,  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  timely  arrival  of  the  Hampton 
boat. 

But  to  this  proposition  Mr.  Simpson  would  not 
listen,  stating  that  it  was  not  the  intention  either  of 
himself  or  his  son  to  set  a  money  value  upon  the  ser- 
vices rendered ;  it  was  enough  that  they  had  been  able 
to  succor  those  who  were  in  distress,  and  in  the  satis- 
faction of  so  doing,  he  declared  that  Paul  and  Zenas 
would  find  a  greater  reward  than  could  be  had  through 
the  medium  of  money. 

"Very  well,"  said  the  owner  of  the  Nera,  interrupt- 
ing Mr.  Brownson  when  he  would  have  made  a 
protest  against  Mr.  Simpson's  decision.  "We  are 
likely  to  lay  here  some  time,  and  there  will  be  ample 
opportunity  to  consider  how  we  may  discharge  the  debt 
of  gratitude  which  is  due." 

Then  he  discussed  with  Paul's  father  as  to  how  the 
Nera  could  best  be  gotten  into  Portland,  and  during 
the  conversation  Zenas  took  considerable  part,  offering 
advice  which  the  gentlemen  believed  to  be  valuable. 
His  proposition  was  that  several  days  might,  and  prob- 
ably must,  elapse  before  a  tug  could  be  summoned,  and 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  271 

in  the  meantime  he  advised  building  a  raft  around  the 
yacht,  as  he  had  already  suggested  to  Mr.  Downs. 

The  result  of  this  was  that  the  owner  of  the  Nera 
left  the  matter  entirely  to  his  discretion,  agreeing  to 
pay  whatsoever  in  the  way  of  wages  might  be  de- 
manded for  the  services  of  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons, 
and  Zenas  hurriedly  finished  his  breakfast  in  order  to 
set  about  the  task  without  delay,  for  all  this  while  it 
had  been  necessary  for  every  member  of  the  crew  to 
work  industriously  at  the  pumps. 

It  was  also  agreed  before  the  meal  had  come  to  an 
end  that,  in  case  Mr.  Simpson  should  need  the  services 
of  any  or  all  of  those  who  had  been  rescued,  in  the 
guarding  of  his  farm,  he  might  feel  at  liberty  to  call 
upon  them  either  by  day  or  by  night. 

Although  the  matter  was  not  stated  in  so  many 
words,  it  was  generally  understood  that  strict  watch  be 
kept  from  that  moment  on  different  parts  of  the  island 
to  guard  against  the  escape  of  John  Ed  Bingham  and 
his  friend,  which  it  seemed  probable,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  fore-and-aft  schooner  had  been  seen, 
would  be  attempted  that  very  night. 

It  was  also  agreed  that  during  such  time  as  the  Nera 
remained  in  the  cove,  Mr.  Simpson,  Paul,  and  Zenas 
should  take  their  meals  on  board  her,  for,  as  her  owner 
said,  while  she  was  much  the  same  as  a  wreck  the 
larder  remained  well  filled,  and  her  cook  was  compe- 
tent to  prepare  the  provisions  in  a  most  approved 
manner. 

When  all  these  matters  had  been  decided  upon,  and 
the  breakfast,  which  was  more  in  the  nature  of  a  din- 


272  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

ner,  had  come  to  an  end,  Paul  and  Mr.  Sawtelle  went 
to  the  wireless  station  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  com- 
municate with  Ned,  for  it  was  now  nearly  noon,  and 
instruct  him  to  send  such  telegraphic  messages  as 
might  be  required  in  order  to  summon  a  tug. 

Mr.  Simpson  went  on  guard  at  the  farm-house  once 
more.  Zenas  had  already  impressed  Mr.  Downs  and 
his  sons  into  service.  The  four  were  hewing  timbers 
from  the  small  thicket  immediately  to  the  eastward  of 
the  dwelling,  where  was  no  danger  the  foxes  might  be 
disturbed,  and  the  crew  of  the  yacht  continued  their 
task  of  pumping  out  the  sea  water  which  was  coming 
in  so  rapidly  through  the  shaft-box. 

Mr.  Sawtelle  was,  as  might  be  understood  from  his 
having  an  apparatus  on  board  the  Nera,  a  student  in 
the  art  of  wireless  telegraphy,  or  radiotelegraphy,  as 
the  scientists  term  it,  and  again  was  Paul's  pride 
aroused  when  the  gentleman  praised  him  in  no  meas- 
ured terms  on  the  results  of  his  work. 

"I  thought  I  was  pretty  well  advanced  in  this  busi- 
ness ;  but  I  find  that  you  lads  have  gone  ahead  of  me," 
he  said  as  he  examined  each  portion  of  the  apparatus. 
"Let  me  see  you  work  it." 

'T  suppose  you  will  think  me  awkward  at  using  the 
key,"  the  lad  said  modestly;  "but  I  haven't  had  suffi- 
cient experience  to  be  a  rapid  operator." 

Then  he  opened  the  trunk,,  fixed  the  wires  for  the 
reception  of  waves,  turned  on  the  switch,  adjusted  the 
potential  divider,  and  began  sending  out  the  call  n — d. 

The  answering  signal  came  almost  immediately,  fol- 
lowed by  the  question: 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  273 

"Where  have  you  been  ?  Did  Bingham  get  hold  of 
you,  or  has  the  island  drifted  away?" 

"I  picked  up  a  message  from  a  disabled  yacht  twenty 
miles  south-west  of  Matinicus,"  Paul  replied.  "Zenas 
and  I  went  after  her  in  the  Hampton  boat  and  towed 
her  in." 

"You  towed  a  yacht  to  Barren  island  ?"  Ned  asked, 
working  the  key  so  rapidly  that  Paul  could  well  under- 
stand how  excited  he  was  by  the  startling  information. 

"That  is  true;  she's  here  now.  Her  owner  wants  to 
hire  a  tug.  Can  you  get  Captain  Tobi  into  the 
station  ?" 

"Where  is  Bingham?" 

"Somewhere  on  the  island.  We'll  catch  him  to- 
night. Can  you  get  Captain  Thompson?" 

"I'll  have  him  in  about  ten  minutes.  Will  you  wait 
there?" 

"Yes,"  came  the  reply,  and  the  conversation  was  at 
an  end  for  the  time  being. 

"Who  is  this  Captain  Tobi,  and  Captain  Thomp- 
son?" Mr.  Sawtelle  asked  curiously. 

"One  and  the  same  person,  sir,"  Paul  replied  laugh- 
ingly. "An  old  sea  captain  who  will  understand  how 
your  business  ought  to  be  done,  and,  if  you  choose,  can 
attend  to  it  for  you." 

Then,  to  occupy  the  time  while  they  were  waiting, 
the  owner  of  the  Nera  discussed  with  Paul  as  to  how 
he  might  by  a  trifling  outlay  increase  the  power  of  his 
station,  and  suggested  so  many  improvements  and  con- 
veniences in  and  around  the  shanty,  that  it  was  to  the 
lad  almost  as  if  his  arrangements  for  radiotelegraph- 


274  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

ing  had  suddenly  fallen  far  below  the  standard  he  and 
Ned  originally  designed. 

"Before  the  Nera  is  able  to  leave  this  vicinity  you 
and  I  will  make  big  improvements  here,"  Mr.  Saw- 
telle  said  cheerily.  "I  have  a  quantity  of  material  on 
board,  and  it  is  all  at  your  service,  for  boys  who  can 
accomplish  what  you  and  your  friend  have,  should  be 
supplied  with  whatever  may  be  needed  for  a  long  dis- 
tance station.  Then  some  day,  after  you  can  call  your- 
self an  expert  at  the  business,  I'll  come  down  here  and 
we'll  build  a  flying  machine.  This  would  be  an  ideal 
spot  for  work  of  that  kind." 

"I  shan't  attempt  anything  quite  so  scientific  as  that," 
Paul  said  laughingly.  "It  is  an  easy  matter  to  build  a 
wireless,  with  all  the  information  a  fellow  can  get  out 
of  books ;  but  he  deserves  to  break  his  neck  as  well  as 
his  legs  if  he  tries  that  which  is  beyond  him." 

"But  it  isn't  beyond  you,  my  boy,  and  you  can  get 
as  much  concerning  air-ships  from  books,  as  you  did 
regarding  radiotelegraphy.  But  we  will  talk  about 
that  another  time." 

Within  ten  minutes  Ned  announced  that  Captain 
Thompson  was  in  the  Seaview  station,  when  Mr. 
Sawtelle  himself  took  the  telegraph  key,  and  during 
nearly  an  hour  he  and  Ned  flashed  back  and  forth 
questions  and  answers  until  matters  regarding  the 
Nera  were  as  nearly  settled  as  they  could  be  from  a 
distance. 

"I  suppose  you  have  heard  all  I  said  ?"  Mr.  Sawtelle 
asked,  turning  to  Paul,  and  the  latter  replied  as  if 
almost  ashamed  to  admit  the  fact : 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  275 

"You  sent  so  much  more  rapidly  than  I  that  I 
couldn't  follow  more  than  half.  As  I  understood  it, 
you  have  hired  Captain  Thompson  to  engage  a  tug  and 
bring  her  here.  He  believes  the  Nera  can  be  repaired 
at  Seaview  as  well  as  at  Portland." 

"That  is  exactly  it ;  but  as  to  the  last  question  I  am 
undecided." 

"There's  a  good  shipyard  at  Seaview,  and  if  you 
should  go  there  the  Hampton  boat  could  tow  the  yacht 
over,  providing  we  waited  for  a  fair  day." 

"I  never  thought  of  that  possibility,"  and  Mr.  Saw- 
telle  started  to  his  feet  with  some  considerable  show  of 
excitement.  "It  is  well  worth  considering,  and  I  will 
talk  it  over  with  Lumley  and  Brownson." 

He  left  the  station  hurriedly,  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment Ned  called  the  island. 

"Who  has  been  sending  the  messages?"  was  the 
question  which  Paul  read. 

"The  owner  of  the  yacht  we  towed  in." 

"Say,  he  can  handle  the  key  all  right.  It  kept  me 
humping  to  make  sense  out  of  it.  What  kind  of  an 
apparatus  has  he  on  board  the  yacht?" 

"I  haven't  seen  it,  but  shall  before  he  leaves.  If  you 
could  only  come  here  now  while  the  Nera  is  in  the 
cove." 

"That's  what  I'm  counting  on.  Would  you  and 
Zenas  come  after  me?" 

"Say  the  word,  and  we'll  be  there." 

Then  the  conversation  was  brought  to  a  close,  and 
leaving  his  instruments  without  fear  of  harm  coming 
to  them  now  that  the  Downs  boys  and  their  father  had 


276  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

been  brought  into  subjection,  as  it  were,  Paul  went 
over  to  the  farm-house. 

"What  about  John  Ed  Bingham  now?"  the  lad 
asked  triumphantly,  when  he  was  come  to  where  his 
father  was  sitting  in  the  door  of  the  dwelling  with  his 
eyes  fixed  upon  that  portion  of  the  timbered  land  where 
it  was  believed  the  smuggler  and  his  companion  were 
in  hiding. 

"It  was  fortunate  for  Mr.  Sawtelle  that  you  were 
able  to  go  to  his  relief,  and,  as  I  look  at  the  matter, 
still  more  fortunate  for  Silver  Fox  Farm  that  you 
towed  the  yacht  here,  because  now  we  have  helpers 
enough  to  prevent  the  old  smuggler  from  making  his 
escape,  no  matter  how  many  may  come  in  the  schooner 
to  aid  him." 

"Do  you  believe  he  will  attempt  to  leave  the  island 
while  so  many  are  here?" 

"Not  knowing  how  long  a  stay  the  yacht  may  make, 
I  fancy  he  will  be  all  the  more  eager  to  get  away,  fear- 
ing lest  we  hunt  him  out.  Besides,  it  is  not  probable 
he  will  be  satisfied  with  a  diet  of  roasted  lobsters  many 
days.  It  is  certain  that  the  schooner,  when  she  comes 
back,  won't  dare  enter  the  cove  while  the  Nera  lays 
there.  Daniel  Downs,  who  has  just  come  up  from  the 
shore,  reports  that  he  can  make  her  out,  seemingly 
hove  to  down  to  the  westward.  She  will  haul  in  here 
before  midnight,  unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken." 

"What  do  you  intend  to  do,  sir?"  Paul  asked  curi- 
ously, and  his  father  replied : 

"I  haven't  been  able  to  decide  the  matter  as  yet.  If 
it  were  not  that  I  must  make  an  example  of  Bingham, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  277 

so  others  may  be  deterred  from  molesting  the  foxes,  I 
would  allow  the  old  scoundrel  to  escape.  But  if  he 
should  go  free  after  what  has  been  done,  I  shall  have 
no  assurance  that  he  won't  try  the  same  game  over 
again.  Certain  it  is  that  other  men  who  are  equally 
dishonest  would  think  it  safe  to  follow  his  ex- 
ample." 

"Then  you  count  on  having  him  arrested,  sir?" 

"It  is  what  must  be  done  for  the  good  of  Silver 
Fox  Farm,  and  the  question  is,  how  it  can  be  effected  ? 
I  am  afraid  starving  them  out  will  be  too  long  a 
process,  and  I'm  opposed  to  sending  any  force  through 
the  woods  in  pursuit  of  the  men,  because  of  disturbing 
the  animals." 

"The  longer  they  stay  in  hiding  the  greater  chance 
that  they  will  come  upon  some  of  the  foxes." 

It  was  to  Paul  very  much  as  if  his  father  preferred 
to  be  alone  while  settling  this  question  in  his  mind,  and 
he  left  him,  going  to  the  cove  where  Mr.  Downs,  with 
the  steers,  was  hauling  timbers  which  had  been  cut  by 
his  sons  and  Gushing. 

Before  sunset  Zenas  had  proven  that  he  was  capable 
of  caring  for  a  craft  in  the  condition  of  the  Nera,  and 
the  crew  of  the  yacht  were  decidedly  convinced  of  his 
ability  because  there  was  no  longer  any  necessity  for 
keeping  the  hand-pumps  going. 

By  rafting  the  timbers  just  hewn,  under  the  stern 
of  the  little  craft,  he  had  raised  it  so  far  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  that  the  sea  no  longer  found  entrance 
through  the  shaft-box,  while  at  the  same  time,  acting 
upon  his  instructions,  the  seamen  had  patched  the  bow, 


278  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

paying  it  well  with  cold  tar,  until  it  was  nearly  water- 
tight. 

"I  don't  allow  I've  done  everythin'  Bristol  fashion," 
he  said  in  reply  to  a  complimentary  remark  from  Paul, 
as  the  two,  in  company  with  the  Downs  boys,  stood 
on  the  shore  gazing  at  the  Nera.  "It's  all  been  done 
same's  a  barn-door  carpenter  would  set  about  doing  it ; 
but  I'm  allowin'  them  'ere  sailors  are  thinkin'  it 
couldn't  be  fixed  better,  'cause  they  don't  like  to  work 
the  pumps  any  too  well.  She'll  lay  there  snug  as  a 
bug  till  the  tow-boat  conies  for  her,  an'  to-morrow  I 
believe  we  can  put  a  patch  over  that  tail-shaft  in  such 
a  way  as  will  stop  a  good  part  of  the  leak." 

"Then  you  have  given  up  farming  silver  foxes  to 
turn  ship  carpenter,  eh?"  Sam  asked  with  the  grin 
which  was  so  disagreeable  to  Paul. 

"I'm  what  you  might  call  a  jack-at-all-trades,  with- 
out bein'  very  good  for  anythin'  in  particular.  But 
I'm  countin'  on  showin'  my  hand  at  catchin'  a  smug- 
gler this  night." 

"Meaning  John  Ed,  eh?"  Ernest  asked  with  a  note 
of  anxiety  in  his  voice. 

"That's  just  who  I  am  meanin'." 

"But  he  won't  try  to  get  away  from  here  while  there 
are  so  many  folks  'round,"  and  now  Ernest  spoke  in  a 
confident  tone,  whereupon  Zenas  cried  sharply,  point- 
ing to  the  westward : 

"Then  why  is  that  'ere  schooner  creepin'  up  here? 
Them  as  are  on  board  of  her  must  think  we're  blind, 
if  we  don't  know  what  she's  about.  After  she  drifted 
within  plain  sight  this  morning,  it  was  their  business 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  279 

to  keep  away  three  or  four  days,  till  we'd  given  over 
looking  for  'em;  but  now  the  fools  are  comin'  right 
on  bold  as  lions,  allowin'  we're  asleep." 

"They  can't  come  ashore  without  our  knowin'  it," 
Ernest  suggested,  and  it  seemed  as  if  this  remark  gave 
Zenas  a  happy  thought. 

Motioning  for  Paul  to  follow  him,  he  started  off  in 
the  direction  of  the  shanty,  and  when  the  two  had  left 
the  Downs  boys  so  far  in  the  rear  that  they  could  not 
by  any  possibility  overhear  the  conversation,  he  said: 

"Look  here,  lad,  I've  got  a  plan  which  if  it  don't 
work  won't  do  any  harm.  We're  goin'  aboard  the 
yacht  for  supper  'twixt  now  an'  sunset,  most  likely. 
Now  s'posen  when  it  grows  dark,  that  instead  of 
comin'  ashore  agin,  we  slip  inter  the  Hampton  boat 
an'  run  down  to  westward  till  we  pick  up  that  'ere 
schooner?  Seein's  how  our  craft  sets  so  low  in  the 
water  I'm  allowin'  we  might  get  close  on  them  villains 
without  their  knowin'  it." 

"And  then  what?"  Paul  asked  in  perplexity,  not  yet 
understanding  Zenas's  plan. 

"Then  we'll  follow  her,  an'  I'm  reckonin'  we'll  dare 
to  run  as  near  the  shore  as  that  schooner  will,  seein's 
we  don't  draw  a  quarter-part  so  much  water." 

"Well?" 

"Wa'al,  that's  the  end  of  it.  It'll  be  a  case  of  our 
cuttin'  out  the  boat  that  puts  ashore,  an'  if  so  be  your 
father's  agreeable,  you  an'  I  can  work  the  whole  trav- 
erse. I  ain't  sayin'  as  we^can  lay  hands  on  John  Ed; 
but  we'll  catch  them  as  come  to  help  him,  an'  without 
their  cronies  on  the  schooner  bein'  any  the  wiser." 


28o  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"But  we  can't  cruise  around  making  prisoners  of 
every  one  who  tries  to  land  on  Barren  island." 

"I  allow  your  father  will  look  at  the  thing  in  a  dif- 
ferent light.  If  we  get  hold  of  them  as  put  ashore 
from  the  schooner,  he  can  send  'em  over  to  Seaview  in 
the  Hampton  boat  on  a  charge  of  trespassing,  an'  in 
the  meanwhile  we'll  have  muddled  John  Ed  an'  his 
friends  to  beat  the  band." 


CHAPTER   XVI 

A    MISCALCULATION 

Not  until  after  Zenas  had  gone  into  all  the  details  of 
his  plan  was  Paul  convinced  that  it  had  in  it  any 
elements  of  success,  and  even  when  he  felt  most  hope- 
ful, the  possibilities  of  failure  seemed  greater  than 
those  of  success. 

Put  into  the  fewest  words,  the  scheme  which  Zenas 
believed  could  not  by  any  chance  go  awry,  was  that  the 
two  run  out  in  the  Hampton  boat  after  night  had 
come,  searching  for  the  schooner.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  if  those  on  board  the  vessel  discovered  their 
whereabouts,  the  plan  would  be  a  failure,  save  in  so 
far  that  they  would  be  able  to  ascertain  without  much 
exertion  where  a  landing  might  be  attempted. 

Zenas  felt  certain,  however,  that  he  could  come 
within  view  of  the  schooner  and  yet  remain  unseen  by 
those  on  board,  in  which  case  he  would  follow  cau- 
tiously until  a  boat  should  be  sent  off  to  open  com- 
munication with  John  Ed  Bingham. 

It  was  necessary  for  the  success  of  this  scheme  that 
the  vessel  approach  the  land  at  some  point  where  the 
shore  would  not  permit  of  her  running  in  very  close, 
and  Zenas  felt  confident  such  might  be  the  case,  be- 
cause the  fact  that  the  disabled  yacht  was  in  the  cove 
would  prevent  any  attempt  at  a  landing  in  that  vicinity. 

"They  are  bound  to  strike  the  southerly  point  of 
the  island  for  more  reasons  than  one,"  he  said  while 

281 


282  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

arguing  the  matter  with  Paul  in  the  seclusion  of  the 
shanty.  "The  first  reason  is  'cause  John  Ed  is  at  that 
end,  an'  can't  well  get  anywhere  else  on  account  of 
our  havin'  so  many  to  stand  watch.  Then  agin,  the 
schooner  wouldn't  go  to  Swallow-Tailed  cove,  even  if 
the  old  smuggler  could  get  there,  on  account  of  not 
bein'  able  to  send  a  small  boat  ashore  after  the  tide 
had  ebbed  a  couple  of  hours,  or  within  that  same  time 
of  its  bein'  high  water.  So  you  see,  lad,  it  is  the  same 
as  a  dead  sure  thing  they'll  try  the  southerly  point." 

"What  then?" 

"Why  the  rest  is  as  easy  as  rollin'  off  a  log.  The 
schooner  won't  be  able  to  come  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  shore,  an'  the  night  promises  to  be  so  black  that 
them  as  are  left  on  board  will  lose  sight  of  their  boat 
before  she's  a  hundred  yards  away.  I'll  agree  to  put 
our  craft  in  anywhere  among  the  rocks  that  they  can 
run  a  dory,  an'  the  minute  the  scoundrels  have  made  a 
landin'  we'll  snake  their  boat  off,  leavin'  'em  prisoners, 
providin'  we  ain't  lucky  enough  to  cut  the  craft  out 
completely,  towin'  her,  with  all  aboard,  inter  the  cove." 

"And  what  do  you  fancy  the  men  will  be  doing 
while  we  are  towing  them  along?" 

"It  may  be  they'll  show  fight ;  but  I  count  on  havin' 
a  boat-hook  handy,  an'  if  I  can't  keep  three  or  four  of 
'em  quiet  it'll  be  time  for  me  to  lay  down." 

"I'm  ready  to  try  it,"  Paul  said  after  a  brief  pause; 
"but  it  seems  to  me  that  we're  taking  big  chances  of 
getting  the  worst  of  it." 

"If  you're  afraid,  of  course  that  settles  the  whole 
business,  unless  I  can  get  one  of  the  Nera's  crew  to 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  283 

go  with  me,"  Zenas  replied  in  a  tone  which  nettled  the 
lad  decidedly,  and  he  cried  sharply : 

"Don't  think  that  I'm  afraid  of  what  they  may  be 
able  to  do.  If  father  is  willing  for  us  to  make  the 
venture  I  shall  go  with  you." 

"Then  the  business  is  settled.  Let's  find  your 
father  now,  'cause  I've  got  considerable  to  do  in  the 
way  of  makin'  the  Hampton  boat  ready  before  we  can 
start." 

It  was  not  a  difficult  matter  to  have  private  speech 
with  Mr.  Simpson,  and  when  Zenas  had  outlined  the 
scheme  to  him  he  said  with  a  smile: 

"It  appears  to  me  that  you  are  counting  unhatched 
chickens,  for  unless  those  on  the  schooner  move  ex- 
actly in  accordance  with  your  desires,  the  plan  must 
fall  through.  So  far  as  concerns  your  running  out 
to  pick  up  the  vessel  with  the  idea  of  learning  at  which 
point  she  will  try  to  come  into  touch  with  Bingham,  I 
heartily  approve  of  it,  and  advise  that  you  do  not  at- 
tempt anything  more,  because  of  the  danger  that  you 
may  have  made  a  miscalculation  in  your  plans." 

This  permission,  although  not  so  hearty  as  Paul 
could  have  wished,  appeared  to  satisfy  Zenas.  On  the 
instant  he  set  off  for  the  cove  to  make  his  arrange- 
ments, and  Mr.  Simpson  was  at  that  moment  joined 
by  Mr.  Sawtelle,  who  held  him  in  private  conversation 
so  long  that  Paul  could  do  no  less  than  leave  them 
alone. 

The  lad  would  have  gone  directly  to  the  station  to 
put  the  apparatus  in  order  for  the  night,  after  ex- 
changing a  few  messages  with  Ned;  but  the  Downs 


284  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

boys  prevented  him,  unless  he  was  willing  to  take  them 
into  the  shanty. 

Both  Sam  and  Ernest  appeared  to  be  laboring  under 
considerable  excitement,  which  Paul  decided  must  be 
caused  by  the  presence  of  so  many  strangers  on  the 
island,  or  because  John  Ed  Bingham  was  in  danger 
of  being  made  prisoner,  and  this  last  seemed  the  more 
probable. 

The  boys  were  eager  to  learn  if  Paul  had  received 
any  late  messages  from  Seaview;  if  he  was  intending 
to  send  any;  how  long  the  Nera  was  likely  to  remain 
in  the  cove,  and  if  her  crew  would  do  all  they  might 
toward  assisting  Mr.  Simpson  in  the  capture  of 
Bingham. 

"One  would  suppose,  after  all  that  has  happened, 
you  would  be  glad  to  know  we  stand  a  good  chance  of 
bringing  John  Ed  up  with  a  round  turn,"  Paul  said 
in  a  tone  of  suspicion,  and  Sam  made  haste  to  declare : 

"Of  course  we  would ;  but  it  stands  to  reason  that 
we're  kind'er  curious  to  know  what's  goin'  on.  If 
you  don't  want  to  tell  us,  we  won't  bother,  but  it  does 
seem  as  if  there  was  no  need  of  keepin*  us  in  the  dark 
after  your  father  believes  that  we're  standin*  right  be- 
hind him,  ready  to  do  whatever  he  wants  of  us." 

"I'm  not  keeping  you  in  the  dark,"  and  Paul  began 
to  be  ashamed  of  his  suspicions.  "I  do  not  know  any- 
thing more  than  you  concerning  father's  plans  for  the 
night.  To  the  best  of  my  belief  he  hasn't  yet  decided 
what  is  to  be  done,  except  that  Bingham  must  be  made 
prisoner." 

"It  don't  seem  as  if  you  could  put  a  man  in  jail  jest 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  285 

'cause  he  stepped  foot  on  Barren  island,"  Ernest  mut- 
tered, and  Paul  seemed  to  think  it  necessary  his 
father's  position  be  defined. 

"I  don't  know  if  that  can  be  done;  but  surely  the  law 
may  deal  with  him  for  coming  here  as  he  has  done. 
Hiding  in  your  house  and  then  in  the  woods  is  proof 
that  he's  trying  to  do  some  mischief  to  the  foxes.  But 
the  first  thing  will  be  to  make  charges  against  him  for 
attempting  to  kill  Zenas,  and  when  that  has  been 
proven  I'm  allowing  he  won't  trouble  Silver  Fox  Farm 
for  some  time  to  come." 

It  seemed  much  as  if  the  Downs  boys  had  suddenly 
lost  all  desire  for  information,  and  one  would  have  said 
they  were  seriously  disturbed  in  mind  because  the  man 
who  had  been  the  cause  of  so  much  trouble  was  in  dan- 
ger of  answering  for  his  misdeeds. 

They  turned  abruptly  away,  going  toward  the  farm- 
house, and  again  Paul  would  have  continued  on  to  the 
shanty ;  but  this  time  he  was  stopped  by  a  signal  from 
the  Nera  that  supper  was  ready. 

It  was  indeed  a  pleasure  to  partake  of  such  a  meal 
as  Mr.  Sawtelle  served  to  his  guests.  The  yacht  had 
been  provisioned  in  the  most  generous  manner,  and,  as 
Zenas  said  more  than  once,  "the  cook  laid  himself  out 
to  show  in  what  way  grub  could  be  juggled  when  a  fel- 
low knew  how  to  do  it." 

On  this  evening  Zenas  did  not  linger  at  the  table  as 
he  had  at  noon,  when  he  seemingly  grieved  because  of 
leaving  the  hospitable  board  even  after  it  was  impos- 
sible for  him  to  eat  anything  more.  He  ate  rapidly, 
urging  Paul  to  do  the  same,  and  when  their  hunger  had 


286  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

been  appeased  he  led  the  way  on  deck,  saying  as  they 
gained  the  open  air: 

"I  allow  we're  ready  for  the  cruise,  an'  the  sooner  it's 
begun  the  better,  seein's  we're  bound  to  run  slow  till 
havin'  picked  up  the  schooner.  There's  no  knowin' 
how  much  time  we've  got,  an'  it  won't  do  to  muddle 
this  thing  jest  because  of  laziness." 

Paul  went  over  the  rail  into  the  Hampton  boat  by 
way  of  answer,  and  five  minutes  later  the  little  craft 
was  gliding  slowly  out  of  the  cove  like  a  phantom  in 
the  darkness. 

Although  it  was  not  possible  the  schooner  could  be 
in  the  vicinity  sufficiently  near  for  their  conversation 
to  be  overheard  even  though  it  had  been  carried  on  in 
an  ordinary  tone,  Zenas  spoke  only  in  whispers  when 
Paul  came  to  his  side,  and  stood  like  a  statue  at  the 
wheel  straining  his  eyes  into  the  gloom  in  search  of 
the  enemy. 

"I  allow  there's  no  need  of  our  doin'  much  tongue 
waggin'  now,  'cause  we  understand  what's  to  be  done. 
All  I  ask  is  that  you  follow  me  when  the  time  comes 
right.  Keep  an  eye  out  for  the  schooner,  an'  if  you 
pick  her  up  before  I  do,  slow  the  motor  down." 

Paul,  who  in  his  nervous  excitement  had  gone  for- 
ward to  be  near  Zenas,  now  returned  to  his  station  in 
front  of  the  motor,  and  in  the  most  perfect  silence, 
save  for  the  soft  chug-chug-chug  of  the  machinery, 
which  was  deadened  by  the  wash  of  the  waves  and  the 
whispering  of  the  night  wind,  the  search  for  the 
schooner  was  continued. 

How  many  moments  passed  before  the  quest  was  at 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  287 

an  end,  Paul  could  not  have  said.  The  suspense  and 
excitement  were  so  great  that  he  had  no  idea  as  to  the 
passage  of  time,  but  strove  to  soothe  himself  by  count- 
ing the  revolutions  of  the  screw. 

Then  came  the  moment  when  Zenas  stepped  back  a 
couple  of  paces  and  waved  his  hand  energetically, 
which  Paul  interpreted  to  mean  that  the  motor  was  to 
be  stopped,  and  after  this  had  been  done  the  lad  went 
noiselessly  to  the  helmsman's  side. 

Without  speaking  Zenas  pointed  over  the  starboard 
bow,  and  after  ten  seconds  or  more  Paul  succeeded  in 
making  out  the  dim  outlines  of  a  schooner's  spars,  so 
misty  and  vague  that  a  less  sharp-sighted  man  than  the 
one  who  stood  at  the  wheel  would  have  failed  to  see  the 
slightest  semblance  to  a  vessel. 

During  five  minutes  the  Hampton  boat  lay  motion- 
less on  the  water,  save  as  she  rose  and  fell  on 
the  waves,  and  then  it  was  possible  to  see  that  the 
ghostly  craft  was  moving  at  right  angles  with  the 
course  the  searchers  had  been  pursuing. 

Paul  understood  that  Mr.  Bingham's  friends  were 
steering  for  the  southerly  point  of  the  island,  exactly 
as  Zenas  claimed  would  be  their  course,  and  for  the 
first  time  since  casting  off  from  the  Nera  did  the  lad 
have  hope  their  venture  might  be  a  success.  If  the 
first  portion  of  the  programme  was  being  carried  out 
as  Gushing  believed,  why  might  not  the  remainder 
follow  in  such  a  manner  that  the  small  boat,  perhaps 
John  Ed  himself,  be  captured? 

Not  until  the  shadowy  spars  were  nearly  lost  to 
view  in  the  distance  did  Zenas  motion  for  his  com- 


288  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

panion  to  start  the  motor  again,  and  then  the  Hampton 
boat  crept  slowly  on  after  her  intended  prey  with  no 
more  of  noise  than  might  have  been  made  by  a  school 
of  playful  fish. 

An  hour  later  and  the  pursuers  were  come  so  near 
the  island  that  the  loom  of  the  land  could  be  made  out 
in  the  distance,  and  the  roaring  of  the  surf  against  the 
rocky  coast  sounded  in  their  ears  with  startling  dis- 
tinctness. 

Then  it  was  that  Zenas  stepped  back  from  the  wheel 
to  whisper  cautiously : 

''Now  send  her  ahead  at  the  best  speed ;  but  be  ready 
to  slow  down  when  I  wave  my  hand." 

The  Hampton  boat  was  swung  around  on  a  wide 
circle,  passing  entirely  beyond  view  of  the  schooner's 
spars,  to  come  up  close  within  the  line  of  surf  at  that 
point  where  the  reef  extended  farthest  to  the  south. 

Once  more  it  was  possible  for  Paul  to  get  a  glimpse 
of  the  shadowy  spars,  and  as  Zenas  gave  the  signal  to 
stop  the  motor,  the  lad  could  hear  the  thud  of  oars  in 
their  row-locks. 

Again  was  the  programme  being  carried  out  ex- 
actly in  accordance  with  Zenas's  figuring.  The  Hamp- 
ton boat  was  within  a  short  distance  of  a  dory  which 
was  proceeding  from  the  schooner  to  the  shore  in 
search  of  John  Ed  and  his  friend,  and  the  time  for 
action  had  arrived. 

Zenas  was  as  patient  as  a  cat  watching  a  mouse. 
He  held  the  boat  motionless  while  the  men  from  the 
schooner,  seemingly  unaware  that  any  one  was  watch- 
ing their  movements,  pulled  here  and  there  seeking  a 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  289 

safe  entrance  amid  the  long  lines  of  jagged  rocks,  and 
instantly  they  shot  landward  on  the  crest  of  a  wave,  he 
signalled  for  Paul  to  send  the  Hampton  boat  ahead. 

It  was  dangerous  work,  putting  the  heavy  craft  into 
that  narrow  water-way,  where  the  slightest  deviation 
from  the  proper  course  would  send  her  on  the  rocks 
where  the  surf  must  speedily  wreck  her;  but  the  man 
at  the  helm  was  determined  on  capturing  those  who 
would  do  mischief  to  Silver  Fox  Farm,  and  prepared 
to  take  any  chances  in  order  to  compass  his  purpose. 

It  was  possible  for  Paul  to  see,  even  in  the  gloom, 
two  men  leap  out  of  the  dory  as  she  was  pulled  skil- 
fully into  a  narrow  rift  of  the  ledge,  and  it  appeared 
to  him  that  they  carried  long  poles  or  clubs  in  their 
hands;  but  he  had  no  time  to  scrutinize  them  very 
closely  because  whispered  orders  from  Zenas  were 
coming  thick  and  fast. 

It  was  "slow  down,"  "send  her  ahead,"  "stop  her," 
in  rapid  succession  until  the  Hampton  boat  had  fol- 
lowed the  dory,  and  was  lying  with  her  bow  alongside 
the  smaller  craft,  protected  from  the  swell  by  the  reef 
on  either  side. 

Verily  those  friends  of  John  Ed  Bingham's  must 
have  been  exceedingly  well  acquainted  with  Barren 
island  at  all  stages  of  the  tide,  for  at  no  other  time 
could  this  landing  have  been  effected  with  any  degree 
of  safety. 

"It'll  take  'em  quite  a  while  to  find  John  Ed,  seein's 
how  he  couldn't  have  had  any  way  of  knowin'  exactly 
where  they'd  come,  an'  we  can  do  our  work  in  good 
shape." 


290  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"You  can't  do  more  than  steal  the  boat,"  Paul  re- 
plied, and  Zenas  was  so  reckless  as  to  indulge  in  a  soft, 
purring  laugh  as  he  drew  out  from  the  boat's  bow  a 
large  coil  of  thin  line  sufficiently  strong  to  be  used  as  a 
towing  hawser  for  such  a  craft  as  the  dory. 

"There's  enough  of  this  'ere  so  we  can  make  fast  an' 
then  back  off  out'er  sight  till  the  villains  are  aboard, 
when  we've  got  'em  foul." 

"But  they  can  easily  cut  the  line." 

"By  the  time  they  know  what's  happened  I'll  have 
'em  alongside  so  near  that  the  boat-hook  can  be  used 
as  a  persuader,"  Zenas  replied  as  he  went  over  the  rail 
of  the  Hampton  boat,  Paul  following  his  example  ac- 
cording to  instructions. 

Because  the  dory  was  lying,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
head  on  the  shore,  it  was  necessary  the  line  should  be 
made  fast  to  her  stern,  for  there  was  not  sufficient  room 
to  turn  the  craft  when  the  flight  was  begun,  and  Zenas 
performed  this  task  with  the  utmost  caution,  after 
he  had  secured  one  end  to  the  bow  of  the  Hampton 
boat. 

Thus  far  everything  had  worked  exactly  as  Gushing 
planned  it  would,  and  at  the  very  moment  when  both 
he  and  Paul  felt  confident  of  success,  disaster  came. 

It  was  not  probable  the  men  on  the  schooner  could 
have  received  warning  of  what  was  to  be  done,  for 
they  had  held  no  communication  with  the  island  since 
the  plan  was  made ;  but  certain  it  is  they  could  not  have 
moved  with  more  precision  had  the  whole  scheme  been 
written  down  with  the  most  minute  detail. 

Zenas  had  but  just  made  the  line  fast,  and  was  pull- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  291 

ing  on  it  to  make  certain  the  bowline  held  securely, 
when  Paul  was  conscious  of  a  crashing  blow  on  the 
head  which  seemingly  caused  sparks  of  fire  to  fly  from 
his  eyes.  After  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  what  was 
going  on  until  he  heard  some  person  in  the  distance 
cry  out: 

''We'll  keep  on  for  the  mainland.  You  can  pick  us 
up  at  Rocky  ledge." 

Dimly  the  lad  wondered  what  might  be  the  meaning 
of  the  words,  and  vainly  he  strove  to  understand  what 
had  occurred  at  the  very  moment  when  success  seemed 
assured,  until  the  touch  of  Zenas's  hand  upon  his  face 
restored  him  to  full  consciousness. 

"What's  going  on?"  he  asked  in  a  whisper,  and 
Zenas  replied  grimly,  as  if  amid  disaster  he  could  see 
something  comical  in  the  situation : 

"I've  made  a  bloomin'  fool  of  myself  by  allowin* 
that  those  fellows  wouldn't  be  on  the  lookout  for  us, 
that's  all." 

"Did  they  strike  me  on  the  head?" 

"I  reckon  there  ain't  any  doubt  'bout  it,  an'  I  got  a 
clip  that  knocked  me  silly.  'Cordin'  as  I  rigger  it,  they 
took  the  oars  ashore,  an'  then  laid  low  till  we'd  done 
the  work.  It  must  have  been  that  we  were  seen  from 
the  schooner,  an'  they  were  ready  for  us.  I'm  allowin' 
both  of  us  were  tumbled  inter  this  'ere  dory,  an'  then 
John  Ed's  friends  set  about  runnin'  the  business  same 
as  if  it  was  their  own  scheme." 

"Where  are  they  carrying  us  ?" 

"To  Rocky  ledge,  as  nigh  as  I  can  make  out  from 
what  that  fellow  said  when  we  passed  the  schooner." 


292  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"But  we  can't  go  there!"  Paul  cried  in  alarm,  and 
Zenas  replied  soothingly: 

"I  don't  allow  we  can.  It's  only  a  matter  of  cuttin' 
the  tow  rope,  an'  then  standin'  by  to  defend  ourselves 
in  case  they  pick  us  up  agin." 

''Why  don't  you  do  it?"  Paul  screamed,  regardless 
as  to  whether  their  captors  might  hear  him. 

"I'm  waitin'  till  we  get  somewhere  nigh  the  mouth 
of  the  cove ;  they  are  runnin'  up  the  shore  of  the  island, 
an'  we  may  as  well  save  ourselves  all  the  work  we 
can." 

Then  Zenas,  taking  a  knife  from  his  pocket,  crept 
into  the  bow  of  the  dory,  watching  meanwhile  the  con- 
formation of  the  land,  and  when  the  Hampton  boat 
was  hauled  around  on  a  course  which,  if  continued, 
would  bring  her  to  Seaview,  he  severed  the  line. 

"There,  that  shuts  us  off  from  them,  an'  I'm  hopin' 
your  boat  will  pick  up  with  her  screw  the  line  that's 
trailin'  astern,  so's  to  bring  their  pleasin'  little  excur- 
sion to  a  mighty  sudden  end." 

"They  have  stolen  the  Hampton  boat!"  Paul  cried 
as  if  he  had  but  just  become  aware  of  the  fact,  and 
Zenas  replied  in  a  grim  tone: 

"I  kind'er  had  a  suspicion  of  that  when  we  started 
an'  I  found  as  how's  we'd  had  a  pressin'  invitation  to 
change  crafts." 

"But  how  can  they  run  her?" 

"I'm  allowin'  there's  some  one  aboard  who  is  as  well 
posted  on  motor  boats  as  you.  .  The  fact  is  that  John 
Ed  has  most  likely  got  away,  an'  now  we're  bound  to 
hunt  for  your  boat  as  well  as  him;  but  don't  get  it 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  293 

inter  your  mind  that  the  old  scoundrel  is  goin'  to 
sneak  out'er  this  scrape  without  considerable  rufflin' 
of  the  hair.  I've  got  nothin'  else  to  do  from  now  on 
but  chase  him,  an'  we'll  have  a  settlement  if  I  live  long 
enough." 

By  this  time  Paul  was  sitting  in  the  stern-sheets 
striving  to  make  out  by  the  shore  line  how  near  they 
were  to  the  cove,  and  Zenas,  having  relieved  his  mind 
somewhat  by  swearing  vengeance  against  Bingham, 
said  in  what  he  intended  should  be  a  cheery  tone : 

"My  head  is  swimmin'  worse'n  it  did  after  John  Ed 
served  me  out  over  by  the  farm-house;  but  we've  got 
to  work  the  oars  if  we  don't  hanker  after  bein'  carried 
off  to  sea." 

Then  he  fumbled  about  in  the  bottom  of  the  craft 
while  one  might  have  counted  twenty,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  cried  with  what  was  very  like  terror  in 
his  tones: 

"There  isn't  an  oar  aboard  this  blessed  craft.  They 
took  'em  ashore  so's  to  have  somethin'  to  knock  us 
down  with -" 

"I  saw  that  they  had  what  looked  like  poles  in  their 
hands." 

"There's  no  question  but  that  they  got  sight  of  us 
'bout  the  time  we  came  across  them — perhaps  before, 
an'  figgered  the  whole  out  the  same's  I  did,  only  their 
reckonin'  worked  right  an'  mine  went  all  wrong.  Now 
what's  to  be  done?" 

"We  can't  make  any  great  fist  at  rowing  without 
oars,"  Paul  replied  bitterly,  striving  manfully  to  pre- 
vent any  token  of  fear  from  sounding  in  his  voice. 


294      •      THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"An'  what  wind  there  is  blows  off  shore  from  the 
island.  'Cordin'  to  all  appearances  we're  likely  to  land 
at  Seaview  before  seein'  Barren  island  agin !" 

The  men  in  the  Hampton  boat  had  given  no  heed 
when  the  tow-line  was  cut,  although  it  must  have  been 
apparent  that  there  was  no  longer  any  drag  on  their 
craft,  and  after  two  or  three  minutes  spent  in  silence 
Zenas  said  bitterly: 

"They  had  the  whole  thing  down  mighty  fine,  an' 
didn't  care  whether  we  cut  the  line  or  not.  I  reckon 
the  villains  counted  we'd  do  that  same  before  findin' 
out  that  there  were  no  oars  aboard,  an'  was  mighty 
glad  to  get  rid  of  us.  But  I'll  square  accounts  with 
John  Ed " 

"What  is  the  use  of  threatening,  when  you  can't 
raise  a  finger  ?"  Paul  asked  impatiently,  and  Zenas  said 
with  a  mirthless  laugh : 

"Seein's  how  I  can't  do  anythin'  else,  it  ain't  any 
great  harm  if  I  let  off  a  little  steam,  allowin'  it  makes 
me  feel  a  bit  better.  We're  bound  to  drift  'round  here 
till  some  craft  picks  us  up,  or  we've  come  to  the  main- 
land, an'  I  reckon  there'll  be  time  enough  on  our  hands 
to  do  a  good  bit  of  threatenin'." 

Paul  had  held  his  courage  as  long  as  possible,  and 
now  that  the  situation  was  thus  pictured  in  words  he 
gave  way,  burying  his  face  in  his  hands  while  mingled 
grief  and  terror  found  vent  in  violent  sobs. 

On  the  instant  Zenas  turned  comforter,  and,  pulling 
the  boy's  head  on  to  his  own  shoulder,  he  strove  to 
soothe  him  much  as  a  mother  would  a  child. 

"It  isn't  so  bad  but  that  it  might  be  worse,  lad. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  295 

We're  adrift,  with  mighty  little  chance  of  bein'  picked 
up  before  mornin',  that  I'll  admit;  but  there's  no  sea 
on,  an'  we'll  pull  through  in  great  shape  if  you'll  only 
keep  your  upper  lip  stiff." 

"I  don't  mean  to  play  the  baby,"  Paul  said  as  he 
strove  to  repress  his  sobs;  "but  I'm  thinking  of  how 
father  will  feel  when  we  fail  to  come  back,  and  he 
knows  that  some  disaster  has  come  to  us.  He'll  be- 
lieve matters  are  worse  than  really  is  the  case." 

"Your  father  isn't  quite  a  fool !"  Zenas  said,  speak- 
ing sharply  in  the  hope  of  arousing  the  boy  from  his 
despair.  "He'll  know  that  John  Ed  an'  his  gang  don't 
dare  go  very  far  in  their  mischief,  on  account  of  the 
law,  an'  it  wouldn't  surprise  me  a  little  bit  if  he  guessed 
jest  what  has  happened." 

"Then  he  will  believe  we  have  been  drowned!" 

"Not  a  bit  of  it.  He'll  send  word  to  Ned  to  have 
Captain  Tobi  put  out  his  sloop  to  hunt  us  up " 

"How  can  he  do  that  when  I'm  not  there?  He 
doesn't  know  anything  about  working  the  wireless." 

"True  for  you;  but  Mr.  Sawtelle  can  run  the  ma- 
chine all  right,  an'  he'll  be  talkin'  with  Ned  Bartlett 
as  soon  as  day  comes.  Say,  when  we  picked  up  the 
Nera  it  wasn't  in  our  minds  that  we  were  doin*  our- 
selves a  good  turn,  eh?  S'posin'  the  owner  of  the 
yacht  wasn't  there?  Then  all  that  contraption  would 
be  useless,  whereas  it  don't  make  the  least  little  bit  of 
difference  because  you're  off  here  driftin'  round  in  this 
'ere  dory  for  your  health.  Say,  what  about  your  old 
power  boat  ?  When  we  don't  show  up  what's  to  hinder 
your  father  comin'  out  in  her  to  hunt  us  up?" 


296  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"He  doesn't  know  how  to  run  the  motor." 

"What  about  Mr.  Sawtelle's  engineer?  Don't  you 
reckon  he  could  handle  a  toy  craft  like  her?  Now 
stop  tryin'  to  find  trouble,  lad.  We're  where  we  can't 
help  ourselves,  an'  it's  only  makin'  a  bad  matter  worse 
to  give  way  same's  you're  doin'.  The  night  will  go 
all  the  quicker  if  we  don't  get  down  to  the  heel,  an' 
when  mornin'  comes  it's  almost  the  same  as  certain 
we'll  be  picked  up  by  some  fisherman,  or  by  your 
father.  He'll  know  in  what  direction  the  wind  is 
takin'  the  dory,  an'  can  steer  for  us  as  straight  as  we 
went  for  the  Nera." 

Thus  did  Zenas  comfort  the  sorrowing  lad,  striving 
to  dispel  his  sorrow  and  his  tears;  but  even  while 
thus  engaged  the  good  fellow  knew  that  danger  men- 
aced, against  which  nothing  could  be  done  by  them. 
The  wind  might  shift,  sending  them  out  to  sea  where, 
and  he  remembered  many  such  cases,  the  dory  would 
drift  about  until  those  on  board  had  starved  to  death. 

Meanwhile  matters  on  the  island  were  not  favorable 
to  the  speedy  sending  out  of  a  relief  expedition  in 
search  of  those  who  had  been  so  neatly  tricked  by  John 
Ed's  friends. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  schooner  remained  hove 
to  so  far  from  the  shore  when  a  dory  was  sent  in  search 
of  the  old  smuggler,  those  who  were  on  the  alert 
against  John  Ed's  escape  did  not  see  her,  therefore  no 
one  could  say  whether  she  had  come  up  to  the  land  or 
not. 

All  the  crew  of  the  Nera,  including  Mr.  Sawtelle  and 
his  friends,  took  part  in  the  guard  duty.  Mr.  Downs 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  297 

and  his  sons  were  stationed  near  Swallow-Tailed  cove 
where  there  was  little  likelihood  they  could  come  in 
contact  with  the  fugitives,  and  Mr.  Simpson  went  to 
and  fro,  keeping  all  the  watchers  under  his  eye. 

Thus  it  was  he  did  not  know  that  Paul  and  Zenas 
remained  absent,  until  nearly  sunrise,  when  he  passed 
the  word  that  it  was  useless  longer  to  stand  guard  be- 
cause there  was  no  probability  John  Ed  would  make 
any  attempt  to  leave  the  island  after  day  had  come. 

Not  until  he  was  on  board  the  yacht,  having  been 
summoned  to  partake  of  an  early  breakfast  after  the 
long  night's  vain  work,  did  he  ask  for  Paul,  and  would 
have  sent  to  the  shanty  to  see  if  he  might  be  there, 
when  Mr.  Sawtelle  pointed  out  the  ominous  fact  that 
the  Hampton  boat  was  not  in  the  cove. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  greatest  excitement 
prevailed  immediately  it  was  discovered  that  the  two 
who  had  set  off  to  capture  the  smuggler  unaided  were 
missing.  Contrary  to  the  supposition  of  Zenas,  no  one 
suspected  the  truth.  It  was  believed  that  there  had 
been  foul  play,  and  in  a  twinkling  all  hands  were 
scouring  the  shore  of  the  island  fearing  to  find  ominous 
evidence. 

It  was  a  full  two  hours  after  sunrise  before  Mr. 
Simpson  was  convinced  that  the  solution  to  the  mys- 
tery would  not  be  found  on  Barren  island,  and  the 
owner  of  the  Nera  suggested  as  a  forlorn  hope  that 
word  be  sent  to  Seaview  by  the  wireless. 

"We'll  give  information  that  Paul  and  his  com- 
panion are  missing,  on  the  chance  that  some  word  may 
be  received  there  concerning  them,"  Mr.  Sawtelle  said 


298  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

in  a  hopeful  tone.  "Then  we  will  send  some  of  my  men 
out  in  the  power  dory  to  search,  and  surely  we  shall 
come  upon  the  poor  fellows  soon,  for  it  isn't  possible 
the  smuggler  or  his  friends  would  haVe  dared " 

Mr.  Sawtelle  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  for  the  in- 
ference was  too  horrible,  and  to  prevent  Mr.  Simpson 
from  getting  the  idea  that  bloody  work  might  have 
been  done,  he  hurried  him  away  to  the  shanty. 

Fortunate  indeed  was  it  for  all  concerned  that  Paul 
and  Zenas  had  answered  the  distress  call  of  the  Nera, 
thus  bringing  another  wireless  operator  to  the  island, 
otherwise  at  this  time  nothing  could  have  been  done 
but  set  off  on  a  blind  search  in  the  old  dory,  and  that 
would  likely  have  been  fruitless,  since  there  was  no 
indication  in  which  direction  the  would-be  rescuers 
should  proceed. 

The  first  call  Mr.  Sawtelle  sent  out  was  answered 
promptly  by  Ned,  who  recognized  at  once  that  a  stran- 
ger hand  was  handling  the  key,  and  one  could  almost 
have  fancied  there  was  a  note  of  anxiety  in  the  click 
of  the  instrument  as  he  asked,  without  waiting  to  learn 
why  he  had  been  summoned : 

"Where  is  Paul?" 

"He  went  out  in  the  Hampton  boat  with  Zenas  last 
night,  and  has  not  returned." 

The  operator  from  Seaview  was  so  impatient  that 
he  could  not  wait  for  Mr.  Sawtelle  to  say  more;  but 
interrupted  by  sending  out  his  call,  thereby  checking 
wave-sounds  from  the  island,  and  the  Nera's  owner 
switched  on  the  receiver,  uttering  an  exclamation  of 
astonishment  as  the  words  sent  by  Ned  were  formed. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  299 

"What  is  it?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  eagerly,  under- 
standing that  Ned  was  sending  information  of  impor- 
tance. 

Not  until  the  message  had  been  received  in  its  en- 
tirety did  Mr.  Sawtelle  make  reply,  and  then,  wheeling 
about  suddenly,  he  said  with  no  little  of  excitement  in 
his  tones: 

"The  Seaview  operator  says  that  your  Hampton 
boat  was  abandoned  in  that  port  by  four  men,  who  were 
taken  aboard  a  schooner — the  same  vessel  that  has  been 
undergoing  repairs  there, — an  hour  ago," 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE   RESCUE 

IT  was  not  difficult  for  the  owner  of  Silver  Fox 
Farm  to  make  a  fairly  good  guess  as  to  what  had  hap- 
pened, after  receiving  the  message  from  Ned. 

Although  his  anxiety  was  great,  as  may  well  be 
imagined,  neither  he  nor  Mr.  Sawtelle  went  so  far 
afield  in  their  conjectures  as  to  take  in  the  possibility 
that  murder  had  been  committed,  and  it  only  remained 
to  speculate  as  to  where  Paul  and  Zenas  had  been  left 
by  John  Ed  Bingham  and  his  confederates. 

"In  trying  to  capture  the  smuggler  they  were  them- 
selves taken  prisoners,  and  it  is  more  than  likely  you 
will  find  your  son  at  some  point  on  the  mainland,"  the 
owner  of  the  Nera  suggested,  and  this  supposition  Mr. 
Simpson  believed  to  be  correct. 

The  two  men  were  eagerly  discussing  this  matter  in 
order  to  decide  where  search  should  first  be  made,  when 
Ned  began  calling  again,  and  after  Mr.  Sawtelle  an- 
swered, he  asked: 

"What  is  to  be  done  with  the  Hampton  boat?  Do 
you  believe  Paul  has  been  killed  ?" 

"There  is  no  fear  any  such  crime  has  been  com- 
mitted," Mr.  Sawtelle  replied,  working  the  key  so  rap- 
idly that  Ned  must  have  had  difficulty  in  reading  the 
sounds.  "He  has  been  left  on  the  coast  somewhere." 
Then,  prompted  by  Mr.  Simpson,  he  added,  "Go  your- 
self, or  hire  some  one  to  take  the  boat  and  run  up  the 

300 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  301 

coast  looking  for  Paul.  We  will  put  out  from  here  in 
the  power  dory." 

"I  will  go,"  came  back  the  reply.  "Anything  more?" 

"Good-by,"  was  sent  from  the  island  station,  and  the 
owner  of  the  Nera  wheeled  about  in  his  chair  as  he  said 
hurriedly : 

"Of  course  you  will  count  me  in  on  this  work,  Mr. 
Simpson.  My  engineer  can  run  the  power  boat,  and 
perhaps  you  should  remain  behind  to  make  certain 
everything  goes  ship-shape  here.  Do  you  know,  I  am 
beginning  to  take  quite  a  fancy  to  silver  fox  farm- 
ing, because  it  promises  so  much  in  the  way  of  excite- 
ment. If  you  ever  want  a  partner  I'm  your  man." 

"Why  should  I  stay  behind  when  the  search  is  made 
for  my  son  ?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  almost  irritably. 

"It  was  only  a  suggestion  which  I  had  no  right  to 
make.  Owing  to  the  size  of  the  power  dory  only  the 
engineer  and  one  other  should  set  off,  since  there  are 
two  to  be  brought  back,  which  will  make  a  full  crew 
for  the  craft.  As  I  look  at  the  matter,  there  is  nothing 
more  serious  in  it  than  that  Paul  and  Zenas  have  been 
knocking  around  all  night  without  shelter,  but  we  shall 
soon  have  them  to  rights.  Your  duties  here  must  not 
be  neglected,  especially  while  you  cannot  trust  the 
farmer  and  his  sons,  therefore  it  seemed  to  me  it  would 
be  as  well  if  I  took  your  place  in  the  boat." 

Mr.  Simpson  soon  came  to  understand  that  the 
owner  of  the  Nera  was  in  the  right,  and  while  the  two 
were  hastening  toward  the  cove  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements,  it  was  decided  that  Mr.  Simpson  would 
remain  behind  on  Barren  island. 


302  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

In  the  meanwhile  Ned  Bartlett  was  making  his  prep- 
arations, with  all  possible  speed,  for  the  rescue.  Before 
sending  the  message  to  Barren  island  he  inspected  the 
Hampton  boat,  which  had  been  abandoned  by  John  Ed 
and  his  friends  in  the  harbor,  having  drifted  ashore  al- 
most directly  under  the  bluff  on  which  the  Seaview 
wireless  station  stood. 

The  boat  was  apparently  uninjured.  It  only  re- 
mained to  find  some  one  who  would  accompany  him  as 
helmsman,  and  get  leave  of  absence  from  the  academy, 
after  which  he  could  get  under  way. 

Thanks  to  his  diligence  at  the  tasks  set  him,  Ned 
was  in  good  standing  at  school,  and  had  no  trouble  in 
getting  cheerful  permission  to  absent  himself  for  sev- 
eral days;  but  it  was  not  a  simple  matter  to  find  a 
helmsman  at  such  short  notice.  One  could  go  later  in 
the  day ;  but  the  lad  was  so  impatient  to  be  in  search  of 
his  friend  that  he  would  not  delay  a  single  hour.  An- 
other was  ready  to  lend  a  hand  if  he  could  get  some 
person  to  look  after  his  business,  and  thus  he  found 
all  to  whom  he  applied;  none  were  inclined  to  leave 
Seaview  within  an  hour,  and  Ned  said  to  himself  as 
he  turned  his  face  toward  where  the  Hampton  boat 
was  moored : 

"I'll  go  alone.  It  won't  be  anything  of  a  job  to  run 
the  motor  and  steer  at  the  same  time.  Paul  has  done  it, 
and  surely  I  can." 

Within  five  minutes  after  arriving  at  this  conclusion 
he  was  running  out  of  the  harbor,  intending  to  skirt 
along  the  coast  half  a  dozen  miles  to  the  southward, 
and  then,  coming  about,  take  a  diagonal  course  to  the 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  303 

northward,   standing  back  until  about  opposite  Sea- 
view,  when  he  would  make  another  tack. 

Fortunately,  so  far  as  Paul  and  Zenas  were  concerned, 
the  lad  did  not  assume  that  the  missing  ones  had  been 
set  ashore  on  the  mainland.  Without  any  good  reason 
for  so  believing,  he  had  hit  upon  what  was  very  nearly 
the  truth,  and  counted  on  finding  them  adrift  in  some 
frail  craft,  working  manfully  at  the  oars  to  gain  a 
harbor. 

Therefore  it  was  that  at  almost  the  same  moment 
two  boats  were  putting  out  in  search  of  Paul  and  Zenas. 
One  leaving  Barren  island  headed  directly  across  to 
the  mainland,  and  the  other  on  the  course  just  set  down. 

To  Paul  the  night  had  neither  seemed  so  long  nor  so 
full  of  discomfort  as  might  have  been  supposed  while 
he  and  Zenas  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  wind  and  waves, 
unable  to  aid  themselves  in  the  slightest  degree. 

After  the  first  outburst  of  grief,  which  well-nigh 
bordered  on  despair,  Zenas  succeeded  in  convincing  his 
companion  that  their  situation  was  by  no  means  as  des- 
perate as  it  first  appeared,  pointing  out  to  him  that 
the  breeze,  which  was  not  sufficiently  strong  to  en- 
danger the  safety  of  the  dory,  carried  them  directly 
toward  the  mainland,  and  although  the  voyage  might 
be  prolonged  until  they  were  beset  by  hunger  and 
thirst,  yet,  if  the  wind  remained  in  the  same  quarter, 
it  must  finally  come  to  an  end. 

So  far  as  Zenas  himself  was  concerned,  he  did  not 
feel  so  positive  they  would  come  through  their  troubles 
in  safety  as  he  strove  to  make  it  appear.  He  knew  full 
well  what  might  be  their  fate;  but  it  sufficed  him  for 


304  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

the  time  to  convince  Paul  that  they  would  soon  be  on 
the  mainland. 

Later  in  the  evening  the  lad,  encouraged  by  his  com- 
panion, lay  stretched  out  at  full  length  in  the  bottom 
of  the  dory,  with  his  head  on  Zenas's  knee,  and  there  he 
slept  as  peacefully  as  if  he  had  been  in  the  shanty, 
lulled  by  the  murmur  of  the  night  breeze  and  rocked 
gently  by  the  ocean  swell. 

The  sun  had  risen  before  Paul  awakened,  and  his  first 
thought  was  regarding  the  selfishness  he  displayed  in 
thus  sleeping  while  his  companion  kept  watch;  but  to 
these  self-reproaches  Zenas  soon  put  an  end,  by  saying : 

"It  ain't  any  two  to  one  but  I've  bottled  up  nigh  as 
much  sleep  as  you;  but  even  though  that  hadn't  hap- 
pened, it  was  better  one  should  get  some  rest  than  both 
stay  awake  when  watchin'  could  avail  nothing." 

"Are  we  within  sight  of  land  yet?"  and  Paul  looked 
anxiously  around,  failing  to  see  anything  save  the  curl- 
ing waves,  which  alternately  raised  the  dory  on  high, 
and  then  gently  dropped  her  into  a  green  valley  of 
water. 

"I  allow  we're  about  half-way  between  Barren  island 
an'  Sea  view,  an'  unless  I'm  considerably  out  of  my 
reckonin',  we've  been  driftin'  as  straight  for  the  home 
port  as  if  we  had  steerage- way  on.  I  ain't  allowin'  that 
we'll  get  inter  harbor  very  early,  lad;  but  you  can  see 
for  yourself  that  we  needn't  look  for  any  shift  in  the 
wind  'twixt  now  an'  sunset,  else  there'd  be  some  token 
of  it  in  sky,  an'  all  the  while  we'll  be  creepin*  nearer  and 
nearer  to  Seaview." 

"And  what  if  it  falls  a  dead  calm?"  Paul  asked,  his 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  305 

face  paling  as  he  thus  suddenly  understood  that  they 
might  be  held  prisoners  on  that  billowy  surface  with 
neither  food  nor  drink. 

"We've  got  just  as  much  reason,  boy,  to  say,  what 
if  a  nor'easter  should  spring  up?  Here  you  are 
crossin'  bridges  agin  before  you  come  to  'em,  an'  there's 
no  sense  in  it.  It  strikes  me,  if  you  really  want  trouble, 
you  could  find  it  right  here  in  this  'ere  boat  without 
reachin'  out  inter  the  future.  We  ain't  likely  to  have 
any  very  hearty  breakfast  this  mornin',  an'  later  on, 
when  the  sun  gets  high,  we'll  be  needin'  somethin'  to 
drink ;  so  keep  your  mind  on  them  'ere  things  if  you've 
got  to  hunt  out  for  somethin'  to  make  you  feel  badly." 

"I'd  like  a  bit  of  Mrs.  Downs's  fried  fish  and  salt 
pork,"  Paul  replied,  his  thoughts  coming  down  to  the 
present,  as  Zenas  intended  they  should ;  "but  we  had  a 
hearty  supper  last  night,  and  should  be  able  to  go 
without  food  one  day  without  suffering  very  much." 

"There!  That's  the  way  to  talk!"  Zenas  cried  heart- 
ily. "Look  on  the  bright  side  of  things,  an'  figger  out 
how  you  can  get  along  as  we're  fixed,  instead  of  sayin' 
that  our  dishes  may  be  bottom-side  up  'twixt  now  an' 
this  day  week.  I  don't  allow  to  be  much  of  a  sailor; 
but  as  you  know,  I  spent  two  seasons  on  the  Banks 
trawlin',  an'  in  a  fog  storm  me  an'  my  mate  got  lost 
with  nothin'  but  a  sixteen-foot  dory  'twixt  us  an'  the 
sea.  We  managed  to  make  shift  four  days,  with  about 
two  quarts  of  fresh  water  to  go  an'  come  on ;  but  yet  I 
lived  through  it  to  land  on  Barren  island  an'  be  done 
up  by  sich  as  John  Ed  Bingham.  Where  do  you 
s'pose  that  bloomin'  scoundrel  is  by  this  time  ?" 


306  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Once  more  Zenas  had  changed  the  current  of  Paul's 
thoughts.  By  dint  of  speculating  as  to  where  the  old 
smuggler  might  be,  and  what  he  would  attempt  in  the 
future  against  Silver  Fox  Farm,  he  succeeded  in  keep- 
ing the  lad's  mind  fixed  upon  matters  other  than  his 
own  condition  at  least  two  hours  longer,  when  he  cried 
excitedly,  rising  to  his  feet  so  suddenly  that  the  dory 
shipped  a  full  bucket  of  water  from  the  crest  of  a 
wave: 

"Look,  lad !  Yonder  conies  a  power  boat,  an'  unless 
I  am  mightily  out  of  my  reckonin'  she's  headin'  straight 
for  us.  How  about  that  for  luck?  Here's  a  fisherman 
blunderin'  along  jest  at  the  time  when  we  want  him  the 
most,  an'  it'll  be  up  to  us  to  say  whether  we'll  keep  on 
to  Sea  view,  or  go  back  to  Barren  island." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Paul  was  on  his  feet  before 
Zenas  could  more  than  call  his  attention  to  the  tiny 
speck  which  rose  and  fell  on  the  waves  far  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  then  he  fell  to  shouting  like  one  who  has 
suddenly  taken  leave  of  his  senses. 

A  moment  later,  however,  the  lad,  realizing  that  it 
was  by  no  means  certain  this  stranger  in  the  distance 
would  continue  on  until  within  hail,  sank  back  in  the 
stern-sheets  as  he  said  mournfully: 

"There  isn't  one  chance  in  twenty  he'll  hold  his 
course  until  coming  up  to  us.  If  we  only  had  something 
to  wave  in  order  to  attract  his  attention !  He  may  get 
within  half  a  mile,  and,  fancying  we  are  laying  here  on 
our  oars,  keep  on  about  his  business." 

"Crossin'  more  bridges,  are  you?"  Zenas  said  with 
his  purring  laugh,  which  now  sounded  like  a  gurgle  of 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  307 

content.  "It's  likely  yonder  fisherman  is  on  his  course, 
and  there's  no  good  reason  why  he  should  change  it 
suddenly.  As  for  somethin'  to  wave,  why  you've  lost 
your  wits,  my  boy." 

While  speaking  Zenas  was  pulling  off  his  coat,  and 
now  standing  on  the  forward  thwart  of  the  dory,  he 
swung  it  vigorously  above  his  head,  making  such  a 
show  that  whosoever  might  be  in  that  small  craft  so 
far  away  in  the  distance'  must  have  his  attention  at- 
tracted, unless  peradventure  he  was  asleep. 

"I  ain't  given  overly  much  to  bettin',  on  account  of 
not  bein'  rich  enough  to  give  way  to  sich  tricks;  but 
if  I  owned  the  whole  of  Barren  island  with  them  'ere 
silver  foxes  thrown  in,  I'd  stake  'em  all  agin  the  small- 
est doughnut  Mrs.  Downs  ever  fried,  that  inside  of  half 
an  hour  that  power  boat  will  be  near  enough  for  us  to 
hail." 

Paul  made  no  reply,  but  sat  in  the  stern-sheets 
watching  intently  the  oncoming  craft,  which  seemed 
momentarily  to  increase  in  size,  as  if  fearing  that 
should  he  take  his  eyes  from  her  for  ever  so  short  a 
time,  she  might  disappear. 

During  the  next  ten  minutes  Zenas  alternately  flour- 
ished his  coat  above  his  head,  and  turned  to  say  some- 
thing by  way  of  encouragement  to  his  companion,  and 
then  it  was  Paul  who  sprang  up  with  an  exclamation  of 
joy  and  surprise : 

"That  is  our  own  boat !"  he  shouted.  "The  very  one 
that  John  Ed  Bingham  stole  last  night.  See!  The 
white  streak,  and  the  stem  rising  above  the  rail  higher 
than  you  usually  find  in  such  a  craft !" 


308  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"I  declare  for  it,  lad,  I  believe  you're  right,"  Zenas 
replied  after  gazing  earnestly  at  the  stranger  while 
one  might  have  counted  twenty.  "She  does  have  a 
look  like  your  craft,  an'  yet  we  won't  get  to  feelin' 
too  certain  about  it,  'cause  all  them  Hampton  boats  are 
made  pretty  much  after  the  same  model.  Howsomever, 
whether  it's  yours  or  somebody's  else,  she's  comin' 
straight  for  us  as  if  we  had  a  tow-line  out,  and  what's 
more,  within  thirty  minutes  we'll  be  headed  for  home 
or  Silver  Fox  Farm." 

Another  ten  minutes  passed,  and  then  both  Zenas  and 
Paul  were  standing  erect,  waving  their  hands  and 
shouting  frantically,  for  they  had  recognized  in  the 
occupant  of  the  power  boat  none  other  than  Ned  Bart- 
lett. 

Paul's  friend  and  partner  in  the  wireless  telegraph 
scheme  had  run  southward  along  the  shore  a  full  ten 
miles  without  having  seen  any  signs  of  that  for  which 
he  sought,  and  was  now  on  a  course  which  would 
bring  him  midway  between  Barren  island  and  Seaview. 
It  is  not  needed  one  should  say  he  had  sighted  the  dory 
before  Zenas  saw  him.  On  the  lookout  for  something 
of  the  kind,  he  had  searched  the  horizon  with  his  eyes 
continuously,  and  while  the  helpless  craft  appeared  to 
be  no  more  than  a  bit  of  floating  driftwood  in  the  dis- 
tance, he  had  said  to  himself  that  his  mission  was  the 
same  as  ended. 

How  is  it  possible  to  describe  the  meeting  between 
the  two  lads  when  the  Hampton  boat  came  up,  throw- 
ing the  spray  either  side  her  bow  as  if  in  very  joy  at 
having  thus  speedily  arrived  at  the  end  of  her  voyage, 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  309 

and  Zenas  and  Paul  leaped  on  board  of  her,  taking  care 
to  carry  with  them  the  painter  of  the  boat  which  John 
Ed  Birt^ham  had  abandoned  in  order  to  set  them 
adrift?  During  five  minutes  or  more  no  attempt  was 
made  to  shape  a  course  either  for  Barren  island  or 
Seaview,  for  the  three  forgot  all  else  save  their  great 
joy  in  having  come  together  once  more,  and  danced  and 
hugged  each  other  until,  as  Zenas  afterward  said,  "it 
was  as  if  a  lot  of  monkeys  had  got  loose  an'  were  cut- 
tin'  up  didoes." 

Nor  was  the  return  voyage  begun  even  after  the  first 
transports  of  their  joy  had  subsided,  for  Ned  insisted  on 
knowing  all  that  had  happened  to  them,  demanding  that 
the  story  be  told  in  detail,  after  which  he  in  turn  ex- 
plained how  he  chanced  to  be  in  possession  of  the 
Hampton  boat. 

"I  reckon  it's  time  we  come  to  an  end  of  tongue- 
waggin',"  Zenas  said  with  his  purring  laugh,  after 
all  these  explanations  had  been  made.  "I'm  allowin' 
there's  no  good  reason  why  we  should  drift  'round 
here,  when  them  as  are  on  Barren  island  would  like  to 
know  that  the  castaways  have  been  rescued.  These 
'ere  stories  can  be  told  jest  as  well  while  we're  under 
way,  so  start  up  your  motor,  boys,  an'  let's  get 
alongside  the  Nera,  where  we  can  set  down  to  a 
dandy  breakfast  sich  as  that  cook  knows  how  to  fix  up, 
for  I'm  willin'  to  admit  I'm  mighty  sharkish  jest 
now." 

"But  what  about  huntin'  for  the  old  dory?"  Ned 
asked.  "Whoever  telegraphed  from  Barren  island 
said  that  somebody  would  go  out  in  her,  and  if  we  put 


310  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

straight  back  now  she'll  be  knocking  around  here  all 
day  on  a  fool's  errand." 

"I  reckon  they  can  take  care  of  themselves/'  Zenas 
replied.  "You'd  best  finish  up  this  'ere  rescue  business, 
Ned,  an'  it  can  only  be  done  by  landin'  us  at  Silver  Fox 
Farm.  After  we've  had  a  bite  to  eat  an'  somethin'  to 
drink,  it'll  be  time  enough  to  hunt  for  the  hunters." 

Therefore  it  was  that  after  this  delay  of  at  least  ten 
minutes,  the  boat  was  put  about  on  a  course  which 
would  bring  her,  as  nearly  as  Zenas  could  judge  with- 
out a  compass,  to  Barren  island,  and  John  Ed  Bing- 
ham's  dory  followed  perforce  in  her  wake,  for  it  would 
have  grieved  Paul  not  a  little  had  he  lost  this  souvenir 
of  his  disagreeable  adventure. 

Never  before  had  Barren  island  appeared  to  Paul  as 
a  beautiful  place.  Heretofore  it  had  seemed  desolate, 
forbidding  in  its  loneliness ;  but  on  this  forenoon,  when 
the  Hampton  boat  entered  the  cove,  rounding  to  under 
the  lee  of  the  Nera,  it  was  in  his  mind  that  he  had  never 
seen  any  spot  more  lovely. 

As  a  matter  of  course  their  approach  had  been  ob- 
served by  all  on  the  island,  and  Mr.  Simpson  was 
standing  at  the  water's  edge  waiting  to  welcome  his 
son  when  Paul,  leaping  into  John  Ed  Bingham's  dory, 
pulled  hurriedly  ashore  to  be  clasped  affectionately  in 
his  father's  arms  as  if  his  absence  had  been  of  long 
duration. 

"Did  you  suffer  much?"  Mr.  Simpson  asked  solici- 
tously, and  Paul  laughed  joyously  as  he  replied : 

"Zenas  wouldn't  allow  it,  father.  He  appeared  to 
think  only  of  me,  without  giving  heed  to  himself,  and 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  311 

during  all  the  night  held  my  head  on  his  knees  rather 
than  awaken  me  by  changing  position." 

"I  wish  there  were  more  like  Zenas  in  this  world," 
Mr.  Simpson  muttered,  and  then  called  upon  his  son 
for  the  story  of  the  misadventure,  after  which  the  two 
went  on  board  the  Nera  for  the  long-delayed  breakfast. 

As  to  where  Mr.  Sawtelle  might  be  just  then  no  one 
appeared  greatly  concerned.  It  was  believed  that,  fail- 
ing to  find  Paul  and  Zenas  at  the  first  attempt,  he 
would  put  in  to  Seaview  in  order  to  learn  if  any  in- 
formation had  been  received  there  concerning  them, 
and  also  to  hold  counsel  with  Captain  Tobi  regarding 
the  steps  which  were  to  be  taken  toward  repairing  the 
yacht. 

"I  believe  he  is  there  at  this  moment,"  Mr.  Simpson 
said  after  the  matter  had  been  under  discussion  a  few 
moments.  "It  is  only  natural  that  he  would  run  into 
the  harbor  to  learn  what  he  might  about  the  abandon-* 
ing  of  the  Hampton  boat,  and  then  he'd  be  told  that 
Ned  had  started  in  search  of  you." 

"Then  it  stands  me  in  hand  to  be  at  the  station.  He 
surely  would  make  an  attempt  to  get  into  communica- 
tion with  the  island,  and  the  proper  course  for  me  is 
to  be  in  readiness  for  wireless  business." 

Mr.  Simpson  made  no  protest.  He  had  already  said 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  take  Zenas  with  him  into 
the  thicket,  in  order  to  learn  if  John  Ed  had  succeeded 
in  doing  any  mischief  to  the  foxes,  and,  therefore,  sug- 
gested that  Ned  and  Paul  go  to  the  shanty  immediately 
after  breakfast,  leaving  Gushing  and  himself  at  liberty 
to  pursue  their  investigations. 


312  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

Paul  did  not  linger  over  the  delayed  meal  as  he  might 
have  done  under  other  circumstances.  He  had  suc- 
ceeded in  persuading  himself  that  Mr.  Sawtelle  would 
attempt  to  get  in  touch  with  Barren  island,  and  was 
eager  to  be  at  his  post  in  order  to  put  an  end  to 
further  searching. 

When,  half  an  hour  later,  the  two  lads  were  in  the 
shanty  with  the  apparatus  ready  for  use,  Ned  said  in  a 
tone  of  envy : 

"It's  mighty  snug  here,  Paul,  and  the  pity  of  it  is 
that  I'm  forced  to  remain  at  the  Academy  when  I  might 
be  having  my  share  of  all  this  excitement  and  adven- 
ture." 

"It  strikes  me  that  you  are  indeed  getting  your  full 
share,"  Paul  replied  with  a  smile.  "It's  true  that  you 
haven't  been  sent  adrift  in  an  open  boat  without  oars 
or  sail ;  but  you  have  had  the  biggest  kind  of  a  finger 
in  the  wind-up,  which  ought  to  satisfy  any  ordinary 
boy.  Besides,  this  station  wouldn't  be  of  much  service, 
so  far  as  silver  fox  farming  goes,  if  you  were  not  at 
Seaview  to  gather  such  information  as  is  needed  from 
time  to  time.  I  reckon  father  is  thoroughly  well  con- 
vinced there  wasn't  any  money  wasted  in  installing 
the  two  stations.  Through  them  we  have  saved  the 
yacht  from  foundering,  to  say  nothing  of  the  lives  that 
might  have  been  lost  if  she  had  gone  down  outside. 
Then  it  is  positive  that  but  for  the  wireless,  John  Ed 
Bingham  would  have  worked  his  will  on  this  island 
long  since." 

"Of  course,  it  has  been  a  paying  speculation;  but  I 
want  more  of  it  for  my  share." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  313 

'And  you'll  get  it  next  year.  Do  you  know,  Mr. 
Sawtelle  believes  this  island  would  be  the  very  place  in 
which  to  make  experiments  in  air-ships,  and  it  may  not 
be  improbable  that  he  will  come  down  here  next  sum- 
mer." 

"Air-ships!"  Ned  exclaimed  in  astonishment;  but 
before  he  could  give  words  to  the  thoughts  which 
crowded  into  his  mind,  both  he  and  Paul  were 
startled,  even  though  they  had  been  hoping  to  hear  it, 
when  the  call  p-1,  p-1,  p-1,  sounded  sharply  on  the  re- 
ceiver. 

"Mr.  Sawtelle!"  Paul  exclaimed  as  he  gave  the  an- 
swering signal,  and  then  the  boys  read  the  following: 

"Have  seen  nothing  of  the  boat.  Am  in  Seaview — 
Who  is  at  the  instrument  ?" 

"It  is  Paul,  Mr.  Sawtelle.  Ned  came  out  in  tfie 
Hampton  boat  and  picked  us  up.  We  believed  you 
would  go  to  Seaview  and  try  to  telegraph  here." 

"I  forgot  at  first  that  you  were  the  only  operator, 
else  I  should  not  have  made  the  attempt.  Am  glad 
you  are  safe.  Who  is  the  man  that  was  to  attend  to  my 
business  ?" 

"Captain  Tobi  Thompson.  Look  for  a  fat  man  near 
the  shipyard." 

"Tell  your  father  a  schooner  answering  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  one  he  believed  Bingham  was  concerned 
with,  has  gone  ashore  on  the  reef  five  miles  north  of 
here.  It  might  be  possible  for  him  to  catch  the 
poacher." 

"I'll  get  word  to  him  at  once.  He  is  in  the  woods 
looking  after  the  foxes.  One  of  us  boys  will  remain 


314  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

in  the  station  all  day  in  case  you  want  to  send  any 
word." 

"I  shall  wait  here  until  you  have  found  your  father," 
came  back  the  reply,  and  Paul  said  as  he  rose  to  his 
feet  and  turned  toward  Ned : 

"I'll  go  over  to  the  woods;  you  stay  here." 

"Of  course,  and  mighty  glad  of  the  chance." 

It  was  not  a  simple  matter  to  find  the  two  who  were 
strolling  through  the  thicket  looking  for  tokens  which 
would  tell  that  John  Ed  had  succeeded  in  working  mis- 
chief; but  when  more  than  half  an  hour  had  elapsed 
Paul  came  upon  the  searchers,  both  of  whom  looked  re- 
markably well  pleased. 

"So  far  as  can  be  seen  he  didn't  find  the  animals," 
Mr.  Simpson  cried  as  if  believing  his  son  had  come 
for  such  information.  "I  have  no  question  but  that  he 
did  his  best " 

"Mr.  Sawtelle  has  just  telegraphed  that  a  schooner, 
which  may  be  the  one  we  saw  off  here,  is  ashore  on 
Beekman's  ledge.  He  says  now  is  perhaps  your  time  to 
catch  John  Ed." 

"Crickey,  if  that  isn't  luck !"  Zenas  cried  in  triumph. 
"It  seems  almost  too  good  to  be  true!" 

Mr.  Simpson  made  no  reply  until  after  walking  rap- 
idly in  the  direction  of  the  cove  a  full  minute,  and  then 
Paul  asked  impatiently : 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it,  sir?" 

"Do?  Why,  go  to  Seaview  as  rapidly  as  the  Hamp- 
ton boat  will  carry  me;  swear  out  a  warrant  against 
Bingham  for  murderous  assault,  and  take  a  sheriff's 
officer  to  the  stranded  schooner." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  315 

"Of  course  that's  what's  to  be  done,  an'  mighty 
quick  for  fear  the  craft  will  be  floated!"  Zenas  cried 
excitedly.  "He's  always  contrived  to  keep  himself  out 
of  trouble,  no  matter  how  much  mischief  he  was  con- 
cerned in;  but  this  time  we've  got  him  foul,  if  that 
blessed  schooner  will  only  stick  to  the  rocks." 

"You  are  to  telegraph  Mr.  Sawtelle,  if  you  can  get  in 
communication  with  him  again,  that  I  will  be  in  Sea- 
view  within  two  hours,"  Mr.  Simpson  said  hurriedly- 
to  his  son,  without  giving  any  heed  to  the  outburst  of 
Cushing's.  "I  shall  take  Zenas  with  me;  you  must 
stay  here  to  look  after  matters.  See  to  it  Downs  and 
his  sons  provide  plenty  of  fish ;  but  take  care  that  they 
do  not  go  into  the  woods.  You  know  what  should  or 
should  not  be  done,  and  with  Ned,  as  well  as  the  crew 
of  the  Nera,  to  help  you,  I  expect  everything  here  will 
go  on  as  well  as  if  I  remained  on  the  island." 

That  Mr.  Simpson  was  in  a  hurry  to  set  off  in  pur- 
suit of  the  old  smuggler,  could  be  told  by  the  fact  that 
he  did  not  linger  to  give  more  detailed  instructions; 
but  hastened  at  his  best  pace  toward  the  cove,  Zenas 
following  close  at  his  heels  like  a  playful  puppy,  as 
if  his  joy  was  so  great  he  could  not  behave  in  a  ra- 
tional manner. 

"We'll  lay  John  Ed  by  the  heels  before  you  see  us 
again,"  he  shouted  to  Paul  by  way  of  farewell,  and 
the  lad  replied  grimly: 

"That's  what  you  counted  on  doing  last  night  when 
everything  was  working  exactly  as  you  would  have 
them." 

"Don't  fear  that  I'll  make  another  fluke!  This  time 


316  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

I'll  give  John  Ed  credit  for  havin'  a  little  bit  of  sense, 
instead  of  playin'  him  for  a  stark,  natural  fool." 

It  would  have  pleased  Paul  if  he  could  have  gone  in 
the  Hampton  boat,  or,  at  least,  down  to  the  shore  to 
witness  the  departure ;  but  his  instructions  were  to  get 
into  communication  with  Mr.  Sawtelle,  and  he  hastened 
to  the  station,  saying  as  he  entered,  where  Ned  was 
seated  in  front  of  the  instruments  as  if  expecting  to  be 
called : 

"Try  to  get  the  owner  of  the  Nera." 

"That  won't  be  hard  work.  He  has  just  asked  if  you 
had  found  your  father,"  and  Ned  sounded  n-d  until  it 
was  answered,  after  which  Paul  took  the  key  and  re- 
peated the  message  entrusted  to  him. 

"I  will  wait  here  till  he  arrives.  In  case  we  should 
not  return  to-night,  you  lads  are  to  use  the  yacht  as  if 
she  was  yours.  Brownson  and  Lumley  will  make 
matters  pleasant  for  you." 

"What's  the  meaning  of  all  that?"  Ned  asked  curi- 
ously after  he  had  spelled  out  the  dots  and  dashes  sent 
by  Mr.  Sawtelle. 

"Father  and  Zenas  are  starting  for  Seaview  in  the 
hope  of  catching  John  Ed  while  his  schooner  is  hung 
up  on  Beekman's  ledge.  You  and  I  are  to  run  the 
island,  and  you'll  have  a  chance  to  see  what  silver  fox 
farming  is  like,  although  there's  little  fear  we'll  live 
as  strenuous  a  life  as  I  have  these  past  few  days." 

"And  we're  to  stay  on  board  the  yacht,  according  to 
that  message." 

"Yes,  and  it  will  be  a  good  opportunity  for  us  to  ex- 
periment with  the  wireless,  for  you  can  use  the  ap- 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  317 

paratus  on  board  the  Nera,  while  I  hang  to  the  old 
stand." 

While  speaking  Paul  could  see,  through  the  window 
of  the  shanty,  the  Hampton  boat  as  she  dashed  out  of 
the  cove  at  full  speed,  his  father  and  Zenas  on  board, 
and,  pointing  toward  the  little  craft,  he  said  with  a 
smile : 

"We're  the  farmers  now,  and  it  is  up  to  us  to  see  that 
the  work  is  done  properly  while  they  are  away " 

He  ceased  speaking  very  suddenly,  for  at  that  instant 
Sam  Downs  entered  the  shanty,  looking  perplexed  and 
at  the  same  time  irritated. 

"Now  what's  goin'  on?"  he  demanded  sharply,  as  if 
believing  some  wrong  had  been  done  him,  and  Paul 
asked  in  bewilderment : 

"What  do  you  mean?  What  is  going  on?" 

"That's  jest  what  I've  come  up  here  to  find  out. 
Wasn't  that  your  father  and  Zenas  in  the  big  boat?" 

"Of  course  it  was." 

"An'  didn't  the  owner  of  the  yacht  go  off  in  the  old 
dory  this  mornin'  ?" 

"Surely  he  did.  Why  are  you  asking  such  foolish 
questions  when  it  is  possible  for  you  to  answer  them 
as  well  as  I  can  ?" 

"We  want  to  know  what's  the  meanin'  of  all  this 
cavortin'  back  an'  forth?"  Sam  cried  angrily.  "Father 
an'  us  boys  have  got  some  rights  on  this  'ere  island,  an' 
we  don't  allow  that  everythin'  can  be  turned  upside 
down  while  we're  kept  in  tjie  dark !" 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
SAM'S  OUTBURST 

PAUL  was  thoroughly  surprised  by  Sam's  outburst ; 
it  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  boy  had  taken  advantage  of 
the  first  moment  when  the  owner  of  Silver  Fox  Farm 
was  absent,  to  make  trouble,  regardless  of  the  promises 
which  had  been  given  by  his  father  and  his  mother  that 
both  he  and  Ernest  should  work  for  Mr.  Simpson's  best 
interests. 

Perhaps  Paul  laid  to  Sam's  door  more  than  the  is- 
land lad  was  really  guilty  of,  for  certain  it  is  he  set  it 
down  in  his  mind  that  Sam  had  come  to  the  shanty 
intending  to  make  a  disturbance  of  some  kind,  simply 
because  it  seemed  to  him  that  now  was  the  time  when 
he  might  bully  the  village  boys  with  impunity. 

Because  of  such  belief,  and  because  it  seemed  to  him 
necessary  he  assert  immediately  the  authority  which 
had  been  delegated  him  by  his  father,  lest  worse  signs 
of  insubordination  should  be  shown,  he  asked  in  a  tone 
of  anger : 

"After  all  that  has  happened  since  that  old  smug- 
gler hailed  us  for  a  tow,  do  you  claim  either  father  or 
I  are  bound  to  give  you  and  yours  any  explanation  of 
our  movements  ?  You  have  not  yet  shown  yourself  en- 
titled to  confidence,  and  it  strikes  me  that  instead  of 
claiming  you  have  any  rights  on  this  island,  it  would 
be  better  if  you  held  your  peace." 

318 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  319 

"An'  give  your  father  a  chance  to  do  whatever  he 
pleases  with  us,  eh?"  Sam  demanded,  much  to  Paul's 
mystification,  for  he  failed  utterly  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  the  words. 

"Look  here,  Sam  Downs,  you  and  your  family  have 
caused  no  end  of  trouble  for  my  father  during  the 
short  time  the  foxes  have  been  on  this  island,  and  now 
if  you  count  on  raising  a  disturbance  in  the  belief  that 
it  can  be  safely  done  while  father  is  away,  you  are 
making  a  big  mistake.  I  am  in  charge  here,  and  intend 
that  matters  shall  go  on  properly.  What's  more,  I've 
the  power  to  force  them  my  way,  for  at  the  least  show 
of  trouble  with  you  I  shall  call  upon  the  crew  of  the 
Nera  to  take  a  hand  in  the  matter." 

"Then  it's  jest  as  Ernest  allowed!"  Sam  cried  pas- 
sionately. "We're  to  be  'rested  an'  lugged  off  so's  your 
father  can  bring  a  lot  of  strangers  here.  An'  I'm  to 
hold  my  tongue  and  not  say  a  word,  else  I'll  get  laid 
by  the  heels  before  the  officers  come  from  Seaview, 
am  I?" 

"Now  what  are  you  talking  about,  Sam  Downs?" 
Paul  cried  impatiently.  "What  ridiculous  idea  have 
you  in  your  head  about  being  arrested  ?  It  was  under- 
stood between  my  father  and  yours  that  he  and  you 
boys  had  turned  about,  faithfully  promising  to  have  no 
more  dealings  with  John  Ed  Bingham,  and  agreeing  to 
attend  to  work  according  to  the  bargain  you  first 
made." 

"An*  that's  jest  what  we  have  done !"  Sam  shouted, 
seemingly  in  a  paroxysm  of  rage  and  terror.  "My 
father  told  your  father  everything  that  we'd  put  up 


320  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

agin  him,  an'  it  was  agreed  to  give  us  another 
trial " 

"Well,  that's  just  what  you're  having;  but  it  strikes 
me  that  you  can't  keep  to  any  promise  very  many  hours. 
Father  and  Zenas  have  hardly  been  away  from  the  is- 
land five  minutes,  and  you  are  making  a  row  for  some 
reason  best  known  to  yourself." 

"Yes,  an'  a  fine  kind  of  a  trial  we've  had  when  you 
start  off  for  the  officers  to  arrest  us  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  you've  agreed  to  let  bygones  be  by- 
gones !" 

Paul  was  evidently  on  the  point  of  making  an  angry 
reply;  but  before  he  could  speak  Ned  interrupted  by 
saying : 

"Look  here,  I  don't  believe  either  of  you  fellows 
know  what  you're  talking  about.  Paul,  why  don't  you 
first  find  out  what  Sam  came  here  for?" 

"He  came  to  make  a  row  because  father  didn't  ex- 
plain to  him  just  exactly  why  he  set  off  for  Seaview," 
Paul  retorted  hotly,  and  Sam  cried  with  a  greater  show 
of  anger,  if  indeed  that  could  be  possible : 

"I  came  here  to  know  why,  if  you  was  going  to  have 
father,  an'  Ernest,  an'  me  'rested,  we  wasn't  told?  It 
had  been  agreed  that  we  should  have  another  chance 
to  show  we'd  live  up  to  the  bargain  made  first ;  but  it 
seems  that  was  only  a  blind  to  keep  us  here  quiet  till 
the  sheriff  came." 

"Why  do  you  think  the  sheriff  is  coming?"  Ned 
asked,  stepping  deliberately  in  front  of  Paul  to  prevent 
hot  words,  and  determined  that  these  two  boys  should 
each  understand  what  the  other  had  in  mind. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  321 

"Why  do  I  believe  it?"  Sam  screamed.  "Because 
Zenas  told  me  so,  that's  why  I  believe  it !" 

"Zenas  told  you  my  father  had  gone  for  the  sheriff 
in  order  to  arrest  you  ?"  Paul  cried  in  amazement. 

"Ay,  that's  what  he  did.  I  was  comin'  up  from  the 
shore  jest  as  he  an'  your  father  went  down  at  full  speed, 
an'  when  I  asked  him  what  was  afoot,  he  said  they 
were  goin'  for  the  sheriff !" 

"There,  that  explains  the  matter,"  Ned  said  with  a 
laugh.  "You  two  fellows  might  have  come  to  fisti- 
cuffs if  I  hadn't  interfered.  Now  is  your  chance,  Paul, 
to  tell  him  how  big  a  mistake  he  has  made." 

"Most  likely  Zenas  told  you  no  more  than  that  they 
were  in  a  hurry  to  find  the  sheriff?"  Paul  said  to  Sam 
inquiringly,  and  the  latter  replied,  still  in  anger: 

"Of  course  that's  what  he  said." 

"But  he  didn't  tell  you  that  it  was  for  the  purpose 
of  having  your  father,  Ernest  and  yourself  arrested?" 

"What  else  could  he  want  of  a  sheriff?"  Sam  de- 
manded fiercely. 

"To  arrest  John  Ed  Bingham." 

"But  John  Ed  Bingham  got  away,  an'  that's  the 
last  you'll  see  of  him  for  many  a  day." 

"Now  look  here,  Sam,"  and  understanding  by  this 
time  the  mistake  the  island  boy  had  made,  Paul's  tem- 
per vanished  entirely.  "If  Zenas  hadn't  been  in  such 
a  hurry  he  would  have  told  you,  most  likely,  that  we 
just  got  word  from  Mr.  Sawtelle  by  the  wireless  that 
the  schooner  in  which  we  believe  John  Ed  to  be,  is 
ashore  on  Beekman's  ledge.  If  father  can  get  a  war- 
rant out  for  him  on  the  charge  of  a  murderous  assault 


322  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

upon  Zenas,  and  find  a  sheriff's  officer  to  serve  it  before 
the  schooner  is  floated,  he  will  have  that  old  smuggler 
where  there'll  be  no  danger  of  his  paying  another  visit 
to  Silver  Fox  Farm  for  a  good  many  months." 

An  expression  of  deepest  relief  came  over  Sam's  face 
while  Paul  was  speaking,  and  when  the  lad  had  come 
to  an  end  of  his  explanations  the  island  boy  cried  fer- 
vently : 

"Glory  be!  If  John  Ed  can  be  laid  by  the  heels  for 
a  spell  it'll  show  him  that  he  can't  have  things  his  own 
way  same's  he  has  been  doin'.  An'  that's  the  lesson 
he's  needed  this  many  a  year !" 

"Do  your  father  and  Ernest  believe  as  you  did?" 

"Why,  of  course;  they're  all  mixed  up  over  it. 
Mother's  cryin',  an'  father's  sittin'  in  the  kitchen  with 
his  head  in  his  hands  like  he  was  never  goin'  to  speak 
agin.  I  know  we  started  in  to  do  a  mighty  dirty  trick ; 
but  it  was  'cause  we'd  been  scared  'bout  out  of  our  wits. 
After  it  seemed  as  if  your  father  had  agreed  to  let 
things  go,  it  tied  us  all  up  in  a  knot  to  think  he'd  take 
the  law  on  us  when  we  was  really  tryin'  to  do  the 
square  thing." 

"Go  down  to  the  house"  as  quickly  as  you  can,  and 
repeat  what  I've  said.  Don't  stay  here  to  talk,  for  it's 
sheer  cruelty  to  let  your  people  believe  any  longer  than 
is  necessary  that  they  are  to  be  arrested." 

Paul  literally  pushed  the  lad  out  of  the  shanty,  watch- 
ing until  he  had  run  at  full  speed  to  his  home,  and  then 
he  said  to  Ned : 

"I'm  not  certain  but  that  you  are  the  one  to  be  in 
charge  here  while  father  is  away,  because  you've  got 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  323 

a  good  deal  more  sound  sense  than  I  have.  If  you 
hadn't  interfered,  Sam  and  I  might  have  come  to  blows 
before  we  understood  each  other." 

"The  only  trouble  with  you  is  that  things  have  been 
going  so  cross-grained  you're  on  the  lookout  every 
moment  for  trouble,  and  ready  to  find  it  even  when  it 
doesn't  exist.  Once  they've  got  hold  of  Bingham,  and 
Barren  island  has  settled  down  into  the  same  desolate 
kind  of  a  place  it  was  when  we  came  over  here  to  install 
this  station,  you'll  be  less  suspicious,  and  more  like 
your  real  self.  Suppose  we  go  aboard  the  yacht?  I 
want  to  see  what  she  looks  like." 

"But  one  of  us  must  stay  here  in  case  Mr.  Sawtelle 
wants  to  send  any  word." 

"We  can  use  the  wireless  station  aboard  the  Nera  as 
well  as  this  one.  There  isn't  much  chance  there'll  be 
any  message  sent  for  a  couple  of  hours,  because  he 
knows  that  your  father  is  on  the  way  to  Seaview." 

Understanding  that  they  would  not  be  neglecting 
their  duty,  Paul  was  more  than  willing  to  act  upon  this 
suggestion,  and  the  two  set  off  for  the  cove,  not  taking 
the  usual  precaution  to  disconnect  the  instruments  now 
there  was  no  longer  any  fear  the  Downs  family  might 
attempt  to  work  injury  to  the  apparatus. 

Their  course  lay  directly  past  the  farm-house,  and 
when  they  were  opposite  the  kitchen  door  Mr.  Downs 
came  out,  bringing  the  boys  to  a  halt  by  saying: 

"I  don't  want  you  to  feel  any  ways  hurt  agin  Sam 
for  breakin'  out  as  I'm  allowin'  he  did.  You  see  when 
Zenas  told  him  your  father  was  goin'  for  the  sheriff, 
an'  we  knew  John  Ed  had  got  clear  of  the  island,  it 


324  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

stood  to  reason  we'd  believe  it  was  on  our  account  the 
officers  were  coming,  so  we  felt  pretty  blue.  Sam  he 
allers  did  fly  off  quick,  so  up  he  goes  to  you,  an'  I  allow 
he  let  off  considerable  strong." 

"That's  all  right,  Mr.  Downs,"  Paul  replied  laugh- 
ingly. "Fortunately  Ned  was  there,  and  had  common 
sense  enough  to  understand  what  might  be  in  the  wind, 
while  I  was  thinking  that  Sam  had  it  in  mind  to  make 
a  row." 

"Then  there's  a  chance  John  Ed  may  be  caught,  af- 
ter all?"  Mr.  Downs  asked  eagerly. 

"If  father  and  Zenas  can  get  a  warrant  in  time, 
which  seems  probable,  it  will  be  done,  for  the  chances 
are  that  he's  on  board  the  schooner.  By  the  way,  I  was 
to  tell  you  to  catch  some  fish  for  the  foxes." 

"Well,  now,  I  don't  jest  see  how  that's  goin'  to  be 
done,"  and  Mr.  Downs  rubbed  his  chin  reflectively. 
"There's  the  dory  up  in  Swallow-Tailed  cove,  an'  it's 
pretty  nigh  low  water.  I  don't  reckon  we  could  take 
one  of  them  dandified  boats  belongin'  to  the  yacht, 
'cause  fishin'  for  cunners  ain't  no  ways  what  you  might 
call  cleanly  work.  How  would  it  do  to  kill  three  or  four 
old  hens,  jest  to  kind'er  stay  their  stomachs  till  night- 
fall, an'  then  we  can  get  out  fishin'?" 

"I  don't  know  that  father  would  be  willing  to  give 
them  such  an  expensive  diet,"  Paul  said  laughingly. 
"It  seems  to  me  that  feeding  foxes  on  hens  would  be 
cutting  it  pretty  rich." 

"Bless  your  soul,  lad,  I'd  kill  off  the  whole  bloomin' 
flock,  an'  do  it  in  a  way  of  thanksgivin',  if  John  Ed 
could  be  brought  up  with  a  round  turn,  so's  there 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  325 

wouldn't  be  any  chance  of  his  comin'  back  to  Barren 
island  to  make  it  hot  for  us.  I'll  slaughter  the  hens 
all  right,  an'  a  couple  of  extra  ones  for  you  an'  Ned, 
if  so  be  you're  inclined  to  take  pot  luck  with  us." 

"The  orders  were  for  us  to  stay  on  the  yacht.  You 
see  she's  got  a  wireless  apparatus,  and  by  remaining 
aboard  we  can  hear  if  a  call  is  sent  out  from  Sea- 
view." 

"Do  you  reckon  your  father  would  let  you  know 
if  he  was  so  lucky  as  to  get  his  hands  on  John  Ed?" 

"I  believe  he  would  send  word  at  once,  or,  at  least, 
as  soon  as  he  got  back  to  Seaview." 

"An'  I  hope  he  does,  for  it'll  take  a  big  burden  off 
my  mind  when  I  know  that  miserable  scoundrel  is 
where  he  can't  force  other  people  to  do  his  biddin'. 
I  always  claimed  to  be  an  honest  man,  an'  allow  I 
would  have  been  till  he  come  'round  threatenin'  so 
strong  that  I  jest  the  same  as  lost  my  head.  Say,  it 
seems  kind'er  queer  that  the  boys  an'  I  made  so  much 
fun  about  your  sendin'  words  on  the  air,  an'  here  we 
are  believin'  somethin'  in  the  way  of  pleasant  news  is 
comin'  to  us  through  that  contraption  yonder.  After 
this  I'll  be  mighty  careful  not  to  turn  my  nose  up  at 
anythin'  that's  told  me." 

Then  the  farmer  hastened  away  to  prepare  his 
thanksgiving  meal  for  the  foxes,  and  the  two  lads  con- 
tinued on  to  the  cove,  where  they  were  speedily  hailed 
from  the  deck  of  the  Nera  by  Mr.  Brownson : 

"Are  you  coming  aboard,  Paul?" 

"Ay,  sir;  if  you'll  send  a  boat  ashore." 

"That  we  will,  for  we  want  to  hear  the  news.    It's 


326  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

almost  fortunate  the  Nera's  disabled,  else  she  might 
have  been  sent  off  to  Seaview  post  haste." 

The  boys  were  taken  on  board  the  yacht,  and  during 
an  hour  Mr.  Sawtelle's  two  guests  devoted  their  time 
to  escorting  them  over  the  dainty  little  craft,  which, 
but  for  the  wireless  apparatus  installed  by  these  two 
visitors,  might  at  that  moment  have  been  lying  on  the 
bottom  of  the  ocean. 

It  was  when  they  came  to  the  snug  quarters  just  aft 
the  wheel-house,  where  were  the  instruments  of  the 
wireless  apparatus,  that  the  boys  were  most  enthusias- 
tic in  their  praise,  for  there  indeed  was  such  an  equip- 
ment as  they  had  desired  to  have,  and  the  wonder  to 
them  was  that  when  the  call  of  distress  had  been  sent 
out  it  should  not  have  been  heard  at  a  greater  distance 
than  Barren  island. 

"This  makes  the  shanty  look  like  a  pretty  poor  place, 
eh?"  Ned  said  as  he  seated  himself  at  the  desk  and 
fingered  the  key.  "I'd  like  nothing  better  than  to  run 
this  instrument  one  season." 

Then,  much  to  the  surprise  of  both  the  lads,  Mr. 
Lumley  said  in  a  matter-of-fact  tone : 

"You  will  probably  have  the  opportunity,  my  lad. 
Sawtelle  seems  to  have  fallen  in  love  with  Silver  Fox 
Farm,  and  it'll  surprise  me  very  much  if  he  doesn't 
spend  the  greater  portion  of  next  summer  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Barren  island." 

"I'm  afraid  that  would  do  me  but  little  good,"  Ned 
said  wistfully,  and  the  gentleman  replied  with  a  smile : 

"Considering  the  fact  that  but  for  what  you  two  boys 
have  done  the  Nera  would  not  be  lying  snug  in  this 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  327 

harbor  waiting  for  a  tug,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  her 
owner  will  be  only  too  well  pleased  to  have  you  on 
board  for  as  long  as  may  be  to  your  pleasure." 

Paul,  on  first  entering  the  wireless  operator's  quar- 
ters, had  set  everything  in  readiness  for  the  receiving 
of  a  message,  knowing  that  by  this  time  the  Hampton 
boat  must  have  arrived  in  Seaview,  and  while  Mr. 
Sawtelle's  guests  were  relating  their  experience  of 
wreck  and  of  waiting  almost  without  hope  for  aid,  the 
call  p — 1,  p — 1,  came  through  the  air  sharp  and  distinct. 

Ned,  who  yet  remained  at  the  desk,  answered  it,  and 
through  the  ether  came  the  words : 

"Warrant  for  Bingham's  arrest  issued.  Simpson  has 
taken  officers  in  motor  boat  to  the  ledge.  Should  return 
within  an  hour.  At  what  station  are  you  receiving 
this?" 

"We  are  on  the  yacht,"  Ned  replied. 

"Find  it  better  quarters  than  in  the  shanty?" 

"Indeed  it  is.  A  fellow  who  couldn't  work  this  ap- 
paratus ought  to  give  up  the  business." 

"Yours  are  rather  crude;  but  I  am  sending  for  outfits 
to  be  installed  here,  and  at  the  island,  which  will  put 
to  shame  the  low  power  apparatus  aboard  the  Nera" 

Then  came  the  good-by,  showing  that  Mr.  Sawtelle 
had  no  further  communication  to  make,  and  Ned  and 
Paul  looked  at  each  other  wonderingly,  the  latter  say- 
ing after  a  long  pause : 

"Do  you  suppose  he  means  that  the  apparatus  he  sent 
for  are  to  be  used  by  us?" 

"He  does  indeed,"  Mr.  Lumley  said  emphatically. 
"We  were  discussing  the  matter  last  night,  and  it  was 


328  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

decided  that  since  our  offers  to  pay  for  the  sen-ice  ren- 
dered when  we  were  in  such  distress  had  been  refused, 
we  would  make  at  least  some  feeble  attempt  to  square 
ourselves.  You  are  to  have  the  best  in  the  way  of  wire- 
less that  money  can  buy,  and  what  is  more,  before  Saw- 
telle  leaves  Seaview  he  will  have  made  a  contract  with 
some  carpenter  to  put  up  a  station  on  the  island  in 
which  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  stay." 

Then  Mr.  Lumley  showed  the  boys  some  rude 
sketches  which  had  been  made  by  the  owner  of  the 
Nem  giving  an  outline  of  how  he  believed  the 
wireless  stations  should  be  arranged,  and  they  gave 
no  further  heed  to  the  passage  of  time,  so  ex- 
cited and  interested  were  both.  The  possibility  that 
they  might  conduct  their  experiments  with  everything 
that  could  be  procured  by  money  had  never  even  been 
dreamed  of,  and  now  it  was  difficult  to  believe  that  all 
their  desires  were  to  be  gratified. 

It  was  while  they  were  thus  engaged,  giving  no  heed 
to  anything  around  them,  that  the  shrill  tooting  of  a 
steam  whistle  caused  the  lads  to  spring  up  in  something 
very  like  alarm,  and  indeed  they  had  good  reason  to  be 
startled,  for  even  at  Seaview  it  was  an  uncommon  oc- 
currence to  hear  such  a  sound  coming  over  the  water. 

The  operator's  quarters  opened  on  to  a  bridge,  or 
platform,  which  led  to  the  deck  below,  and  as  they 
stepped  out  on  this  narrow  balcony  Paul  cried  in  sur- 
prise mingled  with  alarm : 

"Now  what  can  be  the  matter?  Whoever  heard  of  a 
tug-boat  coming  out  to  Barren  island  ?" 

"She  must  be  one  Sawtelle  has  sent  to  tow  this  yacht 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  329 

where  she  can  be  repaired,"  Mr.  Brownson  said,  and 
one  might  have  fancied  he  was  pleased  at  the  oppor- 
tunity to  leave  Silver  Fox  Farm. 

"But  she  couldn't  have  got  here  in  this  short  time," 
Paul  cried,  seemingly  determined  to  believe  that  the 
coming  of  the  tug-boat  meant  something  more  in  the 
way  of  disaster  to  his  father's  scheme,  but  Ned  shouted 
as  he  waved  his  hand  joyously  to  a  man  who  stood 
in  the  door  of  the  stranger's  pilot-house : 

"It's  Captain  Tobi ;  but  where  could  he  have  picked 
up  a  steamer  so  quickly  ?" 

"Ahoy  there !"  came  in  a  tempest  note  from  the  tug 
as  a  very  fleshy  man  went  down  the  short  flight  of  steps 
leading  to  the  deck. 

"Ahoy  on  the  tug !"  Paul  cried,  failing  to  realize  that 
it  was  not  his  place  to  make  a  reply  from  the  yacht. 

"Shall  we  run  alongside,  or  anchor  here?  Oh,  it's 
you  is  it?  Where's  your  father?" 

"He  went  over  to  Seaview  this  morning.  Mr-  Saw- 
telle,  the  owner  of  the  yacht,  is  there  too  looking  for 
you  to  see  about  hiring  a  tug." 

The  steamer's  engine  had  been  stopped,  and  she  was 
lying  idly  on  the  water  when  Captain  Thompson  an- 
swered in  what  might  have  been  called  a  tempestuous 
oily  tone: 

"I  come  upon  this  'ere  craft  by  accident,  so  to  speak, 
an'  havin'  had  orders  in  advance,  as  you  might  say, 
closed  a  deal  with  the  captain  to  tow  the  yacht  over  to 
Seaview,  where  I'm  allowin'  she  can  be  put  into  shape 
as  well  as  if  he  carried  her  further  off.  Better  let  her 
slide  up  alongside  of  them  'ere  fenders,"  the  fleshy  man 


330  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

added  to  the  captain  of  the  steamer,  and  an  instant  later 
demanded  of  Paul : 

"What  kind  of  out-riggin'  have  you  got  swung 
'round  that  craft?" 

"It's  a  scheme  of  Zenas's,  sir.  He  allowed  the  tim- 
bers would  keep  her  hove  up  so  she  wouldn't  take  so 
much  water  through  the  shaft-box." 

"I  ought'er  known  that  was  one  of  Zenas  Cushing's 
contrivances.  He's  a  master-hand  at  patchin'  up,  ac- 
cordin'  to  his  idees ;  but  he  allers  leaves  things  lookin' 
ragged-like.  Who  are  them  'ere  idlers  overhangin'  the 
rail?" 

"The  crew  of  the  yacht,  sir,"  Paul  replied. 

"Then  set  'em  to  work  haulin'  Zenas's  lumber  out 
so's  we  can  come  alongside  to  make  fast.  I  never  al- 
lowed the  crew  of  sich  a  craft  as  that  would  strain 
themselves  very  hard  workin';  but  did  reckon  they'd 
get  life  enough  in  their  bodies  to  handle  a  hawser  now 
an'  then." 

Mr.  Brownson,  who  appeared  to  be  enjoying  Cap- 
tain Thompson's  fault-finding,  now  called  the  mate  of 
the  Nera  to  bear  a  hand,  and  in  a  twinkling  the  old 
ship-master  was  roaring  out  his  notes  of  command, 
first  to  those  aboard  the  yacht,  and  then  to  the  crew  of 
the  tug-boat,  until  it  was  as  if  every  part  of  the  island 
reverberated  with  the  noise. 

Even  though  Mr.  Downs  and  his  two  sons  had  been 
deaf  as  posts,  they  must  have  heard  Captain  Tobi's 
vigorous  commands  in  not  overly  choice  language,  and 
when  Paul  looked  shoreward  to  learn  if  they  were 
aware  of  the  steamer's  arrival,  he  saw  the  three  coming 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  331 

at  full  speed  from  the  spring  where  the  foxes  were  to 
be  fed,  and  the  old  sea  captain  had  not  succeeded  in 
working  the  tug-boat  alongside  the  Nera  when  Mr. 
Downs  was  shouting  words  of  welcome  from  the 
shore. 

"Wa'al,  bless  my  eyes,  Captain  Tobi!  It  does  do  a 
man  good  to  see  you!  I  never  expected  to  hear  you 
rippin'  'round  workin'  a  craft  at  anchorage  agin',  an' 
now  here  you  are  at  Barren  island !" 

"Is  that  you,  Daniel?  Jest  as  shiftless  an'  jest  as  lazy 
as  ever,  I  allow,  else  you'd  be  out  here  lendin'  a  hand 
to  clean  up  some  of  Zenas  Cushing's  litter." 

"How  do  you  expect  a  man's  goin'  to  get  out  there 
when  he  hasn't  a  boat  to  his  name  ?" 

"Haven't  got  a  boat,  eh?"  and  Captain  Thompson 
roared  until  the  foxes  must  have  slinked  into  their  holes 
alarmed.  "What  kind  of  a  man  are  you  to  be  on  this 
forsaken  place  without  a  craft  of  some  kind  ?" 

"Our  dory  is  up  in  Swallow-Tailed  cove,  an'  we 
can't  get  her  out  till  high  water.  All  the  rest  of  the 
boats  headed  for  Seaview  this  mornin',  like  as  if  a 
county  fair  was  goin'  on  there." 

"They  tell  me  Ben  Simpson  has  gone  too  ?"  Captain 
Thompson  roared,  as  if  believing  he  could  only  get  true 
information  of  the  owner  of  Silver  Fox  Farm  from 
Mr.  Downs. 

"Yes,  he's  on  the  track  of  John  Ed,  so  they  say: 
counts  on  havin'  him  'rested." 

"Counts  on  'restin'  John  Ed?"  Captain  Thompson 
cried  as  if  in  amazement,  and  ceasing  that  instant  to 
give  any  attention  to  those  who  had  been  obeying  his 


332  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

commands.  "Does  Ben  Simpson  allow  he  can  handle 
that  slippery  scoundrel?" 

"They  do  say  he's  aboard  the  schooner  that  went 
ashore  at  Beekman's  ledge;  but  Paul  can  tell  you  all 
about  it ;  he  got  the  news  on  the  air  through  that  bird 
cage  that's  hangin'  up  yonder." 

Captain  Tobi  turned  to  face  the  two  lads,  as  he  cried 
in  a  thunder  note  which  seemingly  came  from  the  very 
depths  of  his  lungs : 

"What's  that  Daniel's  givin'  me,  lad,  about  John 
Ed's  schooner  bein'  ashore  ?" 

"That's  what  Mr.  Sawtelle  telegraphed,  sir.  Father 
and  Zenas  started  off  in  the  Hampton  boat  at  once  to 
get  a  warrant.  About  an  hour  ago  we  got  word  from 
Seaview  that  the  sheriff's  officers  had  gone  with  father 
to  the  ledge  in  the  hope  of  finding  John  Ed  there." 

"Well,  all  I  can  say  is  if  they  do,  it'll  be  the  best  job 
I've  heard  of  for  many  a  day.  It's  a  good  many  years 
since  I've  been  after  that  precious  smuggler  tryin'  to 
get  pay  for  my  Zoe  that  he  jewed  me  out  of,  and  if  so 
be  your  father  contrives  to  fetch  him  up  sharp,  I'll  have 
a  finger  in  the  pie." 

Then,  as  if  suddenly  realizing  that  the  crew  of  the 
yacht  and  the  tug-boat  might  be  wasting  a  moment  or 
two  of  time,  he  turned  furiously  upon  them,  command- 
ing that  they  do  this,  or  that,  or  the  other,  in  almost  the 
same  breath,  until  the  men,  puzzled  to  know  what  his 
real  desires  were,  stood  staring  at  him  like  statues. 

"I  don't  suppose  you've  many  men  in  Seaview  like 
the  old  captain  there,  eh?"  Mr.  Brownson  asked  in  a 
low  tone  of  Paul,  and  the  lad  replied  laughingly : 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  333 

"None  who  can  make  so  much  noise  as  he,  sir." 

"I  should  fancy  not,  else  the  more  quiet  portion  of 
the  population  would  be  obliged  to  move  out  of 
town." 

"Are  you  comin'  ashore,  Capt'in  Tobi?"  Mr.  Downs 
called  after  a  time,  during  which  the  old  ship-master 
had  succeeded  in  bringing  the  steamer  alongside  the 
yacht. 

"I  reckon  I  may  as  well,  Daniel,  seein's  how  I  don't 
want  to  tow  a  man's  craft  away  without  his  knowledge 
an'  consent,  so  to  speak.  I  ain't  certain  but  that  I've 
been  a  little  brash  in  bringin'  this  'ere  tug-boat  over  be- 
fore seein'  the  owner  of  the  yacht;  but  she  happened 
along  jest  in  the  nick  of  time,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  an' 
I  wasn't  goin'  to  miss  sich  a  chance  to  save  a  dollar 

or  two.  I  reckon  we'll  hang  up  here  until  Mr. Mr. 

what's-his-name  comes  back,  so  I  may  as  well  neighbor 
with  you  for  a  spell,  Daniel." 

"I'll  be  glad  to  see  you,  Captain  Tobi,  an'  so  will 
mother.  Reckon  I'd  best  kill  a  chicken,  'cause  this  is 
kind  of  a  thanksgiving  day  with  me,  or  will  be,  if 
John  Ed  is  laid  by  the  heels." 

"Kill  a  chicken !"  the  old  man  roared  as  if  in  anger. 
"What's  the  matter  with  salt  pork  an'  fresh  fish?  If 
you've  got  a  prime  little  rock  cod  right  there  for  your 
wife  to  fry,  same's  she  used  to,  I'd  like  to  put  my  teeth 
in  it,  for  it  would  go  a  good  deal  better'n  all  the  kick- 
shaws you  can  set  out.  I  never  did  go  much  on 
chickens  when  the  pork  barrel  was  well  filled." 

It  pleased  the  boys  not  a'  little  to  see  Farmer  Downs 
consulting  with  his  sons  as  to  how  it  would  be  possible 


334  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

to  procure  that  for  supper  which  Captain  Tobi  most 
wanted,  and  Paul  whispered  to  Ned : 

"It  wouldn't  surprise  me  if  Mr.  Downs  and  his  sons 
tried  to  drag  their  dory  across  from  Swallow-Tailed 
cove  to  the  shore,  for  the  sake  of  getting  fish  to  please 
Captain  Tobi." 

The  male  members  of  the  Downs  family  were  not  so 
much  inclined  for  such  work  as  Paul  had  suggested, 
for  after  consulting  each  other  the  old  farmer  hailed 
the  tug-boat  again,  and  asked  if  they  would  "favor  him 
with  the  lend  of  a  boat  for  half  an  hour  ?" 

"Got  to  go  out  an'  catch  your  fish  if  you  cook  any 
to-night?"  Captain  Thompson  cried  boisterously.  "Of 
course  you  can  have  a  boat;  I've  chartered  this  'ere 
tug,  an'  when  it  comes  to  a  case  of  havin'  a  codfish  right 
out'er  the  water,  I'd  sooner  you  took  her,  crew  an'  all, 
than  go  without  it.  Hi,  one  of  you  sogers  there!  Pull 
ashore  for  Mr.  Daniel  Downs !  He  can  set  you  aboard 
agin  as  he  goes  out'er  the  cove." 

One  might  have  imagined  from  the  noise  which  was 
made,  that  Barren  island  had  suddenly  become  a  popu- 
lous village.  Under  Captain  Tobi's  energetic  manage- 
ment the  Downs  boys  were  sent  out  fishing.  The  old 
farmer  bustled  to  and  fro  between  the  house  and  the 
cove,  evidently  bent  on  overseeing  his  wife's  prepara- 
tions for  supper,  and  keeping  an  eye  on  what  was  being  ' 
done  aboard  the  tug  and  the  yacht,  while  the  crews  of 
both  craft  were  made  to  jump  here  and  there  upon  some 
needless  duty,  seemingly  for  no  other  reason  than  that 
the  old  ship-master  might  see  them  moving  about  un- 
der his  command. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  335 

It  was  while  Paul  and  Ned  were  watching  with  deep- 
est interest  and  amusement  all  this  bustle  and  seeming 
confusion,  that  the  instrument  in  the  yacht's  station 
clicked  off  the  call  p-1,  p-1,  p-1. 

When  Ned  had  answered  it  he  received  the  following 
message  from  Mr.  Sawtelle: 

"Bingham  has  just  been  brought  to  Seaview  under 
arrest.  He  was  found  on  the  schooner.  Am  told 
Captain  Thompson  has  gone  to  Barren  island.  Have 
you  heard  from  him?" 

"He  is  here  with  a  tug  awaiting  your  arrival,"  Ned 
replied,  and  then  as  he  got  the  signal  that  no  further 
communication  was  to  be  made,  he  ran  to  the  bow  of 
the  yacht,  shouting  to  Mr.  Downs,  who  was  half-way 
between  the  shore  and  his  home : 

"The  sheriff  has  got  John  Ed!" 

"Glory  be !"  the  old  man  shouted  again  and  again,  and 
then  turned  suddenly  and  ran  with  all  speed  to  impart 
the  welcome  intelligence  to  "mother." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

PLANS  FOR  THE  FUTURE 

THE  information  which  had  come  from  Seaview 
aroused  the  greatest  excitement  on  the  island,  and  from 
various  causes. 

Mr.  Sawtelle's  guests,  who  had  come  to  believe  they 
must  remain  at  Silver  Fox  Farm,  because  of  what  Paul 
and  Zenas  had  done  toward  saving  the  yacht,  until  Mr. 
Simpson  had  finally  beaten  off  the  poachers,  could  now 
return  to  their  homes.  Mr.  Downs  and  his  family  were 
rejoicing  in  the  belief  that  John  Ed  would  not  soon  be 
at  liberty  to  do  them  an  injury  in  revenge  for  their 
turning  against  him.  While  Paul  and  Ned  were  jubi- 
lant because  now  it  seemed  as  if  the  foxes  would  remain 
undisturbed  for  so  long  a  time  that  the  business  of 
farming  for  pelts  would  get  a  healthy  start. 

Captain  Tobi  was  by  no  means  the  least  excited  of  all 
those  on  Barren  island.  He  believed  that  now  had  come 
the  time  when  he  could  force  the  old  smuggler  to  pay 
the  amount  so  long  due  on  the  purchase  of  the  Zoe, 
and,  as  Zenas  often  said,  "a  dollar  laid  mighty  near 
Capt'in  Tobi's  heart." 

Even  the  crew  of  the  yacht  joined  in  the  general  re- 
joicings because  it  appeared  as  if  John  Ed's  career  was 
likely  to  be  cut  short,  although  they  knew  nothing  what- 
soever regarding  the  man,  and  were  not  interested  in 
silver  fox  farming.  The  fact  that  their  employer  was 

336 


THE  WIRELESS  STATION  337 

in  some  slight  degree  concerned,  was  sufficient  to  ex- 
cite them. 

Captain  Tobi  no  longer  fumed  and  fretted  because 
the  sailors  on  the  tug  and  the  yacht  did  not  move  in  as 
lively  a  manner  as  he  believed  they  should ;  but  ceased 
work  entirely  to  go  on  shore  where,  until  a  regular 
feast  of  fried  salt  pork  and  codfish  had  been  prepared 
by  Mrs.  Downs,  he  listened  to  the  old  farmer's  story 
of  what  John  Ed  had  tried  to  do  on  Barren  island. 

On  board  the  Nera  Paul  and  Ned,  urged  by  Mr. 
Lumley  and  Mr.  Brownson,  lingered  long  at  the  table 
that  night,  telling  of  their  efforts  to  install  the  wireless 
stations  when  their  desires  were  far  in  excess  of  their 
funds,  and  the  meal  had  not  yet  come  to  an  end  when 
the  sound  as  of  some  craft  chafing  against  the  Nera's 
hull,  caused  them  to  spring  to  their  feet  in  delight,  at 
the  very  moment  Zenas  was  heard  hailing : 

"Ahoy  on  the  yacht !  Is  this  the  way  you  receive  con- 
querin'  heroes?" 

When  Paul  gained  the  deck  of  the  Nera  he  saw  the 
Hampton  boat  lying  alongside,  while  made  fast  astern, 
as  if  she  had  been  towed  across  from  Seaview,  was  the 
old  power  dory.  All  those  who  had  departed  from 
the  island  in  the  morning  were  clambering  over  the 
rail  of  the  yacht,  and  Mr.  Sawtelle  and  Mr.  Simpson 
were  questioning  the  master  of  the  tug-boat  as  to  what 
Captain  Tobi's  plans  might  be. 

As  was  only  natural,  Zenas  had  singled  out  the  boys 
as  his  audience,  for  he  was  nearly  bursting  with  desire 
to  tell  the  story  of  John  Ed's  capture,  and  Paul  grati- 
fied him  by  asking: 


338  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

"Did  he  make  much  of  a  fuss  when  the  sheriff  ar- 
rested him?" 

"John  Ed  is  too  wise  a  guy  to  do  anythin'  of  that 
kind.  He  gave  himself  up  as  if  the  one  thing  he  ached 
for  was  the  jail,  an'  had  the  nerve  to  stand  up  to  your 
father  an'  swear  he'd  never  stepped  foot  on  Barren  is- 
land since  the  foxes  were  let  loose." 

"What  about  his  towing  us  out  from  the  island  and 
setting  the  boat  adrift?"  Paul  asked  angrily. 

"The  old  fox  hadn't  seen  me  when  he  began  to  stuff 
your  father  with  the  story  that  he  didn't  even  know 
where  Barren  island  was;  but  when  I  stepped  out  an' 
asked  if  he  didn't  want  the  dory  he'd  left  with  us,  he 
shut  his  mouth  like  a  clam." 

"Did  you  have  any  trouble  in  getting  a  warrant  for 
his  arrest?" 

"Not  a  bit.  Mr.  Sawtelle — an'  say,  lads,  that  man  is 
sure  a  dandy — he'd  been  to  see  a  lawyer,  an'  could  tell 
him  all  'bout  what  John  Ed  had  done,  so  when  we 
struck  the  town  everythin'  was  ready  for  us  to  go  be- 
fore the  judge.  It  didn't  take  five  minutes  to  get  the 
thing  done  ship-shape  an'  bundle  the  sheriff's  men 
aboard  the  Hampton  boat.  When  we  got  to  Beekman's 
ledge  there  was  the  schooner  hard  an'  fast,  an'  there 
John  Ed  was  caught  like  a  rat  in  a  trap,  for  after  leavin' 
his  dory  for  us  to  starve  in,  an'  settin'  your  craft  adrift, 
there  wasn't  any  way  for  him  to  get  ashore,  except  by 
swimmin',  an'  it's  what  you  might  call  a  reasonably 
long  stretch  to  the  mainland  from  the  rocks.  We  ran 
alongside  an'  went  over  the  rail  without  hearin'  a  yip 
from  anybody/1 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  339 

"Did  John  Ed  stand  in  plain  sight  while  you  were 
coming  up  to  the  schooner?"  Paul  asked  curiously. 

"He  hadn't  tumbled  to  who  we  were  till  it  was  too 
late  to  dodge  inter  the  hold.  Oh,  John  Ed's  nobody's 
fool,  an'  when  he  saw  the  jig  was  up  he  made  the  best 
of  it.  I  had  swore  that  he  knocked  me  silly  on  the 
night  he  sneaked  out  of  the  farm-house,  an'  when  one 
of  the  officers  told  him  'bout  it,  he  looked  at  me  mighty 
wicked,  but  had  the  good  sense  to  hold  his  tongue." 

"Then  you  carried  him  to  Seaview  ?"  Ned  suggested 
when  Zenas  ceased  speaking  as  if  his  story  was  told. 

"Yes,  the  officers  had  him  fast,  an'  he  never  so  much 
as  turned  a  hair  from  the  time  we  left  the  stranded 
schooner  till  he  went  ashore  on  his  way  to  the  jail.  Un- 
less'he  can  find  somebody  who'll  go  bail,  which  ain't 
in  any  way  likely  after  all  the  mischief  he's  done  on 
this  'ere  coast,  he'll  stay  in  prison  till  his  trial  comes 
off,  somewhere  'bout  October.  Then,  unless  things  go 
mighty  queer,  he's  sure  of  free  lodgin's  for  a  consid- 
erable spell  of  time.  What  about  the  Downs  family?" 

Paul  gave  him  a  detailed  account  of  all  that  had  hap- 
pened since  he  and  Mr.  Simpson  got  under  way  for 
Seaview,  and  the  story  was  hardly  more  than  finished 
when  Captain  Tobi  came  aboard  the  yacht  to  tell  Mr. 
Sawtelle  what  he  proposed  to  do  with  the  Nera. 

The  old  ship-master  employed  a  quantity  of  words 
in  the  telling  of  what  was  a  short  tale.  He  explained 
with  many  a  hurricane  note  that  he  had  hired  the  cap- 
tain of  the  tug-boat  to  tow  the  yacht  to  Seaview  at  a 
greatly  reduced  price,  owing  to  his  having  happened  to 
be  in  that  vicinity,  and  covered  two  or  three  sheets  of 


340  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

paper  with  figures  to  show  how  greatly  it  would  be  to 
Mr.  Sawtelle's  pecuniary  advantage  if  the  Nera  was 
repaired  in  the  shipyard  of  which  he  was  part  owner. 

A  lengthy  discussion  ensued,  during  which  Zenas 
whispered  to  the  boys  that  he  would  be  glad  to  go  to  the 
shanty,  where  they  could  be  alone. 

"It's  a  mighty  fine  place,  is  this  'ere  cabin ;  but  some- 
how I'll  feel  more  like  myself  if  we  can  crawl  off  where 
we  belong.  Besides,  there's  nothin'  for  us  to  do  here, 
an'  I'd  like  to  hear  what  Daniel  an'  his  precious  sons 
have  to  say  'bout  John  Ed's  arrest  an'  the  work  that 
has  been  done  by  your  wireless  contraption." 

No  particular  heed  was  paid  to  the  three  when  they 
stole  softly  on  deck,  clambered  aboard  the  Nera's 
tender,  and  pulled  ashore,  where,  within  less  than  two 
minutes  after  they  landed,  Mr.  Downs,  followed  by 
Sam  and  Ernest,  came  hurriedly  out  of  the  house. 

"So  you've  really  bottled  John  Ed  up?"  the  farmer 
cried  in  apparent  delight  as  he  seized  Zenas  by  the 
hand,  shaking  it  violently. 

"That's  what  we've  done,  an'  it'll  be  a  long  spell, 
'cordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin',  before  anybody  else  will 
dare  to  meddle  with  the  foxes,"  Zenas  cried  triumph- 
antly. 

"It  has  taken  the  biggest  kind  of  a  load  off  the 
shoulders  of  my  family,  to  say  nothin'  of  myself,"  Mr. 
Downs  added  in  a  tone  of  thankfulness.  "You  know, 
Zenas,  that  when  John  Ed  has  had  a  grudge  agin  any- 
body in  this  part  of  the  country,  he's  allers  contrived 
to  pay  it  without  gettin'  himself  inter  a  scrape.  If  I 
hadn't  been  so  mortally  afraid  of  the  old  scoundrel  I'd 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  341 

never  tried  to  turn  Mr.  Simpson  up  the  way  I  did ;  but 
he  had  me  where  I  didn't  dare  to  say  my  soul,  was  my 
own." 

"An'  he'd  be  cavortin'  'round  the  country  this  blessed 
minute,  ready  for  any  kind  of  mischief  he  could  lay 
his  hand  to,  if  it  hadn't  been  for  that  wireless  contrap- 
tion the  boys  set  up,"  Zenas  suggested  with  a  grin. 

"I  know  it,  I  know  it!  An'  it  only  shows  what  an 
old  fool  I've  been.  I  might'er  known  Mr.  Simpson 
wouldn't  have  put  good  money  out  on  sich  a  lot  of  truck 
if  there  hadn't  been  somethin'  in  it.  Neither  the  boys 
nor  I  could  figger  out  how  anybody'd  be  able  to  send 
words  on  nothin'  but  air,  an'  we  haven't  got  it  through 
our  thick  heads  yet,  when  it  comes  to  that.  It's  a  big 
thing,  though,  'specially  for  fox  farmin',  an'  to  think 
that  a  couple  of  lads  like  them  two  did  it  all !" 

"I'm  allowin'  the  business  will  go  along  all  right 
from  this  out,"  Zenas  suggested,  "an'  there  won't  be 
much  need  of  my  stayin'  on  Barren  island  any  longer." 

"We'll  hope  you'll  be  here  a  long  spell  yet,  'cause  I 
want  you,  an'  all  them  who  have  seen  how  I  let  John 
Ed  lead  me  'round  by  the  nose,  to  have  an  eye  out  on 
the  way  I'll  live  up  to  my  end  of  the  bargain." 

Paul  was  not  disposed  to  listen  longer  to  Mr.  Downs's 
words  of  repentance.  He  believed  that  the  farmer  and 
his  sons,  now  they  no  longer  had  anything  to  fear  from 
the  old  smuggler,  would  do  their  full  duty ;  but  it  was 
not  pleasant  to  have  them  "eat  humble  pie,"  as  Zenas 
put  it,  to  such  an  extent,  v 

Therefore  the  Downs  family  were  soon  left  behind 
as  the  lads  and  Zenas  hurried  on  to  the  shanty,  where, 


342  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

fit 

after  he  had  arrived,  Zenas  at  once  set  about  filling  his 
pipe,  saying  as  he  lighted  it  and  stretched  out  at  full 
length  on  the  bed : 

"Now  I  can  take  a  little  bit  of  comfort." 

"Have  you  been  working  so  terribly  hard  to-day?" 
Ned  asked  with  a  smile. 

"It  ain't  the  workin'  part  of  it  that  has  troubled  me ; 
but  you  see  I  never  did  mix  any  with  swells,  an'  I  al- 
low that's  jest  what  Mr.  Sawtelle  is,  'cause  he  must 
have  a  pile  of  money,  an'  it  keeps  me  all  haired  up  for 
fear  I'll  make  a  fool  of  myself  in  some  way.  Here  I 
can  do  whatever  I  please,  without  thinkin'  folks  are 
watchin'  out  as  if  I  was  a  wild  animal  what  might 
turn  rusty  or  kick  up  a  bobbery  any  minute." 

Before  Zenas  had  finished  his  smoke  Paul  and  Ned, 
without  going  through  the  formality  of  undressing, 
were  sleeping  soundly  on  the  narrow  bed,  nor  did  they 
awaken  until  the  sun  had  risen  next  morning,  when 
Mr.  Sawtelle  looked  in  at  the  door  with  a  cheery  sum- 
mons for  them  to  "turn  out." 

"Breakfast  aboard  the  yacht  will  be  ready  in  half 
an  hour,  and  you  lads  must  be  at  the  table,  for  the  Nera 
leaves  port  as  soon  as  the  meal  is  at  an  end.  We  want 
all  hands  present  at  what  is  much  the  same  as  a  leave- 
taking." 

"Then  you  are  going  away  immediately !"  Paul  cried 
with  a  note  of  regret  in  his  tones.  "Of  course  I  knew 
Captain  Tobi  would  want  to  get  under  way  at  once; 
but  I  hoped  you  might  contrive  to  stay  a  day  or  two 
longer.  I  wish  he  hadn't  run  across  that  tug-boat  quite 
so  soon." 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  343 

"Then  you  d  really  be  sorry  not  to  see  me  again  ?" 
Mr.  Sawtelle  asked  with  an  odd  inflection  of  the 
voice. 

"Indeed  I  would,  more  particularly  since  Ned  and  I 
have  been  counting  on  your  telling  us  all  you  know 
about  wireless  telegraphing.  We  don't  understand 
more  than  the  rudiments,  and  need  some  one  as  a 
teacher  who  has  had  experience." 

"I'm  afraid  it  would  be  a  case  of  the  blind  leading 
the  blind  if  I  should  set  myself  up  as  a  teacher,"  the 
gentleman  replied,  laughing  heartily  at  the  idea.  "But 
you  haven't  seen  the  last  of  me  by  considerable,  as  my 
friend  Zenas  would  say.  I  am  bound  to  stay  in  this 
vicinity  until  we  have  increased  the  power  of  both 
your  stations,  and  built  near  here  a  house  that  will  be  a 
pleasant  place  for  the  operators  to  live  in.  Mr.  Lum- 
ley  and  Mr.  Brownson  will  go  back  to  New  York  im- 
mediately we  arrive  at  Seaview;  but  I  shall  stay  with 
the  Nera  between  here  and  the  mainland  longer,  per- 
haps, than  you  fancy." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Paul  asked,  puzzled  by  the 
expression  on  Mr.  Sawtelle's  face,  and  the  tone  in 
which  he  spoke. 

"I  have  bought  half  an  interest  in  Silver  Fox  Farm. 
Your  father  is  to  go  with  me  this  morning  to  have 
the  partnership  papers  made,  and  also  to  purchase 
Barren  island  outright." 

"You  going  into  the  business  of  raising  silver 
foxes?"  Ned  cried  incredulously. 

"That  is  the  fact,  lad.  To  my  mind  it  is  a  most  in- 
teresting experiment;  but  perhaps  I  would  not  have 


344  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

been  so  eager  to  have  a  share  in  it  but  f of  another  plan 
which  has  been  long  in  my  head.  This  island,  so  far 
from  the  mainland  that  curious  people  cannot  con- 
veniently get  here,  will  be  just  the  place  in  which  to 
build  an  air-ship  such  as  Mr.  Brownson  believes  he  has 
invented,  and  by  becoming  part  owner  of  the  island  I 
can  carry  out  his  ideas  without  fear  of  interruption 
from  outsiders." 

"An  air-ship !"  Paul  exclaimed  with  a  long  indrawing 
of  the  breath.  "But  of  course  you  can't  make  one  that 
may  really  be  sailed  through  the  air !" 

"Why  not?  It  has  already  been  done  many  times 
over " 

"But  they  can't  be  made  to  go  where  you  please. 
They  will  never  be  more  than  a  sort  of  balloon." 

"When  you  came  here  to  install  this  station,  Mr. 
Downs  was  positive  you  could  not  send  a  message 
through  the  air  without  connecting  wires,  and  you  be- 
lieved him  to  be  foolish,  because  you  had  good  proof 
that  it  was  practicable.  Now  I  have  seen  air-ships  that 
could  be  navigated,  notably  the  German  craft,  and, 
therefore,  your  incredulity  as  to  the  possibility  is  as 
unwarranted  as  was  the  farmer's  regarding  the  wireless. 
At  all  events,  before  another  year  has  passed,  I  predict 
that  we  will  have  something  which  can  be  handled  in  the 
air — but  it  is  time  for  us  to  go  to  breakfast.  We  shall 
have  ample  opportunity  to  discuss  the  matter,  for  I 
intend  to  remain  here  during  this  summer,  and,  per- 
haps, spend  the  winter  helping  guard  the  foxes." 

Then  Mr.  Sawtelle  led  the  way  to  the  cove,  the 
boys  following  a  long  distance  in  the  rear  so  that  they 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  345 

could   privately   talk   over   the    wonderful    proposi- 
tion. 

It  is  really  time  that  this  story  should  be  brought  to 
a  close,  for  Silver  Fox  Farm  has  much  the  same  as 
passed  the  experimental  stage,  and  can  almost  be  said 
to  be  a  success.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  anything 
rather  than  a  failure,  as  was  shown  during  the  fol- 
lowing winter,  when  Paul  and  Ned  both  saw  very 
many  little  foxes  playing  in  the  snow  as  happy  and 
contented  as  if  there  was  no  other  place  in  all  the 
world  than  Barren  island. 

To  look  ahead  only  a  few  months,  it  can  be  said  that 
Mr.  Downs  and  his  boys  were  never  tempted  again  to 
be  false  to  their  employer.  They  soon  came  to  under- 
stand that  more  money  could  be  made  by  them  honestly, 
by  strictly  attending  to  duty,  than  if  they  turned 
poachers  with  the  possibility  of  coming  within  reach  of 
the  law's  strong  arm. 

It  should  also  be  set  down  that  John  Ed  Bingham 
was  found  guilty  of  a  murderous  assault  on  Zenas 
Gushing,  and  sentenced  to  a  term  of  two  years  in 
prison.  It  was  well  for  Farmer  Downs  that  neither  he 
nor  his  sons  were  in  the  court-room  at  the  time  all  this 
was  done,  for  the  old  smuggler  then  and  there  swore 
vengeance  against  them,  as  if  believing  they  alone  were 
responsible  for  his  capture. 

No,  Captain  Tobi  did  not  get  the  money  due  him 
from  John  Ed  on  the  purchase  of  the  Zoe.  Bingham 
laughed  at  the  old  ship-master  when  he  suggested  that 
the  debt  be  paid,  and  advised  in  mild  irony  that  the 


346  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

captain  should  spend  his  spare  time  at  the  prison  wait- 
ing for  it. 

As  to  the  air-ship  venture,  that  tale  must  be  told  at 
another  time,  for  it  is  even  a  longer  story  than  this  has 
been;  but  before  many  months  had  passed  after  Mr. 
Sawtelle  became  a  partner  in  Silver  Fox  Farm,  both 
Paul  and  Ned  came  to  understand  how  hasty  they  had 
been  in  declaring  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  navi- 
gate the  air,  and  then  they  were  much  better  informed 
as  to  such  matters. 

And  now  in  coming  to  the  end,  we  will  go  back  to 
that  breakfast  on  board  the  Nera  before  she  was  towed 
to  Seaview  to  be  repaired,  with  Captain  Tobi  acting  as 
master  of  ceremonies. 

It  surely  seemed  as  if  the  yacht's  cook  had  exerted 
himself  to  make  of  this  last  meal  aboard  the  disabled 
craft  a  regular  feast,  for  the  breakfast  was  more  like 
a  dinner,  and  those  who  partook  of  it  would  have 
lingered  long  at  the  table  but  for  the  continued  and 
noisy  warnings  of  Captain  Tobi  from  the  deck  that  it 
was  time  to  be  under  way. 

During  the  meal  plans  were  laid  for  the  future. 
Mr.  Sawtelle  described  the  kind  of  a  building  he 
proposed  to  put  up  as  a  wireless  station  and  at  the 
same  time  a  home  for  the  managers  of  the  farm.  Mr. 
Brownson  explained  his  plans  for  an  air-ship,  declaring 
positively  he  could  and  would  build  one  which  might 
be  handled  as  readily  as  was  the  Hampton  boat,  at  the 
same  time  stating  that  it  was  his  intention  to  spend  the 
following  summer  on  Barren  island  for  the  purpose  of 
superintending  the  work. 


AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM  347 

"By  then  your  fox  farm  will  be  so  far  advanced  that 
you  need  not  spend  very  much  time  running  it,"  he 
said,  addressing  Mr.  Simpson.  "The  wireless  will 
have  ceased  to  be  a  novelty,  and  you'll  wonder  how  you 
ever  contrived  to  transact  business  without  it.  The  two 
lads  here  shall  be  my  lieutenants  in  the  air-ship  building, 
and  Zenas  can  act  as  general  superintendent.  We  will 
spend  a  pleasant  summer,  and,  what  is  more,  show 
that  men  can  fly  as  well  as  walk." 

"In  other  words,"  Mr.  Sawtelle  added  laughingly, 
"Barren  island  will  have  become  a  perfect  paradise  for 
inventors  and  experimenters,  and  it  will  surprise  me  if 
from  it  does  not  spring  that  which  will  astonish  the 
nations  of  the  earth." 

"There'll  be  somethin'  sprung  aboard  this  'ere  yacht 
that'll  astonish  them  as  are  on  board,  if  much  more 
time  is  spent  in  tongue-waggin'  when  we  should  be  un- 
der way,  if  we  count  on  makin'  Seaview  before  yonder 
clouds  let  out  the  wind  that's  inside  'em!"  Captain 
Tobi  roared  down  the  companion-way.  "I  allow  that 
I'm  to  be  held  responsible  for  gettin'  the  Nera  inter 
port,  an',  that  bein'  the  case,  my  orders  are  for  sich  of 
you  idlers  as  are  goin'  ashore  to  make  a  move.  The 
others  can  keep  on  gabblin',  an'  then  they  won't  be  in 
my  way  on  deck." 

Since  Paul,  Ned  and  Zenas  were  the  "idlers"  re- 
ferred to  by  the  angry  captain,  they  made  haste  to  go 
over  the  rail  into  Mr.  Downs's  dory,  which  had  been 
brought  around  from  the  cove.  No  sooner  was  the 
boat's  painter  cast  off  than  Captain  Tobi  gave  the  mas- 
ter of  the  tug  orders  to  "move  lively  before  there 


348  THE  WIRELESS  STATION 

was  a  chance  for  other  tongue-waggers  to  comt 
aboard." 

The  boys  and  Zenas  watched  the  departure  of  the 
dainty  little  craft  which  had  been  saved  from  founder- 
ing by  the  wireless  and  the  Hampton  boat,  and  wherr 
she  went  limping  out  of  the  cove,  like  a  lame  man 
leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  a  friend,  Ned  said  with  a 
long  indrawing  of  the  breath : 

"Only  think,  Paul,  that  if  we  hadn't  'played,'  as  fa- 
ther called  it,  with  wireless  telegraphy,  that  yacht,  with 
her  owner,  his  friends,  and  crew,  would  be  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  ocean !  We  surely  have  done  some  good  in 
this  world,  even  though  I  did  fail  to  pass  my  exam, 
last  spring !" 


THE  "SILVER  FOX  FARM"  SERIES 


BY  JAMES   OTIS 

THE  WIRELESS  STATION  AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM. 

Illustrated  by  Charles  Copeland.    8vo. 

A  bright,  vividly  written  narrative  of  the  adventures  of 
Paul  Simpson  and  Ned  Bartlett  in  helping  the  former's  father 
start  a  farm  for  raising  silver  foxes  on  Barren  Island,  twelve 
miles  off  the  Maine  coast. 

THE  AEROPLANE  AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM. ,. 

Illustrated  by  Charles  Copeland.    8vo. 

An  absorbing  story  of  the  building  and  'working  of  an  aero- 
plane on  Barren  Island. 

BUILDING  AN  AIRSHIP  AT  SILVER  FOX  FARM. 

Illustrated  by  Charles  Copeland.    8vo. 

Encouraged  by  their  success  in  aeroplane-building,  the  boys 
of  Silver  Fox  Farm  go  in  for  a  full-fledged  airship. 

AIRSHIP  CRUISING  FROM  SILVER  FOX  FARM. 

Illustrated  by  Charles  Copeland.    8vo. 

A  further  account  of  the  marvels  performed  by  the  Silver 
Fox  Farmers,  including  the  story  of  the  thrilling  rescue  of  a 
shipwrecked  yachting  party  by  means  of  their  great  air-cruiser. 


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How  two  patrols  carried  through  to  success  a  big  lum- 
bering contract.     Illustrated  by  Charles  Copeland. 


By   PERCY   K.    FITZHUGH 
ALONG   THE   MOHAWK  TRAIL; 

OR,  BOY   SCOUTS   ON  LAKE   CHAMPLAIW 

The  lively  doings  of  real  Boy  Scouts  among  historic 
scenes.  Illustrated  by  Remington  Schuyler. 

FOR  UNCLE   SAM,   BOSS; 

OR,    BOY    SCOUTS    AT    PANAMA 

A  rousing  story,  telling  how  the  boys  of  "Along  the 
Mohawk  Trail"  render  important  services  to  the  United 
States  in  connection  with  the  great  Canal.  4  illustrations. 

IN  THE  PATH   OF  LA  SALLE; 

OR,  BOY  SCOUTS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI 

The  interesting  experiences  of  the  main  characters  in 
"For  Uncle  Sam,  Boss,"  while  boating  down  the  Father  of 
Waters.  Their  varied  adventures  finally  carry  them  as 
far  as  Mexico.  Illustrated  by  Fisk. 


By  EDWIN   L.   SABIN 
PLUCK  ON   THE   LONG   TRAIL; 

OR,  BOY  SCOUTS  IN  THE  ROCKIES 

A  stirring  narrative  of  packing,  trailing,  and  camping 
in  the  West.  Illustrated  by  Clarence  Rowe. 

Each  Volume,  12mo,  cloth,  75  cents. 

A  fine  series  of  wholesome,  realistic,  and  entertaining 
stories  for  boys  by  juvenile  writers  of  recognized  stand- 
ing, who  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of  Boy  Scouts  a.nd 
of  real  scouting  in  the  sections  of  the  country  in  which 
the  scenes  of  their  books  are  laid. 


THOMAS  Y.    CROWELL  COMPANY 
NEW  YORK 


THE    BAR    B    SERIES 


By  EDWIN   L.   SABIN 
BAR  B   BOYS; 

OR,   THE   YOUNG   COW-PUNCHERS 

A  picturesque  story  of  Western  ranch  life.     Illustrated 
by  Charles  Copeland. 


RANGE   AND   TRAIL 


I  trail  from 
y  Clarence 


The  Bar  B  Boys  in  winter  and  on  the  Ion 
New  Mexico  to  the  home  ranch.  Illustrated 
Rowe. 

CIRCLE  K; 

OR,  FIGHTING  FOR  THE  FLOCK 

The  ranchmen  are  here  engaged  in  the  sheep .industry, 
and  the  story  has  the  same  real  Western  flavor.  Illus- 
trated by  Clarence  Rowe. 

OLD  FOUR-TOES; 

OR,  HUNTERS   OF  THE  PEAKS 

The  two  boys,  Phil  and  Chet,  Grizzly  Dan  and  others, 
figure  in  this  fascinating  account  of  hunting,  trapping, 
and  Indian  encounters.  Illustrated  by  Clarence  Rowe. 

TREASURE   MOUNTAIN; 

OR,   THE   TOUNG   PROSPECTORS 

Tells  of  the  locating  of  an  old  gold  mine  near  the  top 
of  a  mountain  peak.  One  of  the  liveliest  books  in  the 
series.  Illustrated  by  Clarence  Rowe. 

SCARF  ACE  RANCH; 

OR,  THE   YOUNG   HOMESTEADERS 

Two  young  heroes  here  take  up  some  government  land 
and  engage  most  successfully  in  cattle  raising  on  their 
own  account.     Illustrated  by  Clarence  Rowe. 
Eacb   Volume   8vo,    cloth,   75  cents. 

Also  by  MR.   SABIN 
PLUCK  ON  THE  LONG  TRAIL; 

OR,  BOY  SCOUTS  IN  THE  ROCKIES 

A  stirring  narrative  of  packing,  trailing,  and  camping 
in  the  West.  Illustrated  by  Clarence  Rowe.  12mo,  cloth. 

BEAUFORT   CHUMS 

Tells  of  the  adventures  of  two  boys,  a  boat  and  a  dog 
on  the  Mississippi.  Every  boy  will  read  it  eagerly.  Illus- 
trated by  Charles  Copeland.  12mo 50-75 


THOMAS  Y.    CROWELL  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK 


..".CS.9.Y™1™  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  058  022     5 


